 Scientists from the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle, announced in January 2010 that they had analysed the genetic code of ten different pedigree dog breeds.In the Shar-Pei, they discovered four small differences located in the gene HAS2, which is responsible for making hyaluronic acid synthase 2.That enzyme makes hyaluronic acid, which is one of the key components of the skin.