DNA – The Double Helix Double-Edged Sword

By Pilar Kuhn

Remember your science classes when learning about DNA? It is amazing that four nucleotides combine for endless unique combinations. I love that double helix twister ladder because I believe it symbolizes the pros and cons of DNA usage with our pets.

Dog breeders tout health testing as one of the utmost important aspects of our decisions for which stock to use for future litters. We have fought endless fights to eradicate certain diseases and issues, but we now have incredible tools to help us with wise breeding decisions. One such product developed by Mars Veterinary is Optimal Selection. In my conversations with Dr. Angela Hughes PhD DVM, she has spent years working on DNA testing to help breeders determine what potential health issues might exist or not exist for healthier litters. I was floored to learn that Chromosome 8 holds genetic markers for glaucoma. While Dr. Hughes can inform someone that their dog may or may not possess that marker, the challenges with glaucoma stem from two different types of the disease and the DNA tests are not as sophisticated yet to inform someone which type may be in their dog’s genetic make up. Regardless, the science forwarded by Dr. Hughes and her colleagues have helped many breeders and breeds.

Dog DNA has been in the news this past year with regards to housing properties that allow pets. The ongoing challenges some people have with learning how to use a poop bag have spurred DNA testing to determine which canines and their owners are leaving messes. In order for tenants to live at a property with a dog, the dog has to have a DNA test performed and put on file along with the lease. One such company called PooPrints works with 28 different property management companies to discover the problematic pooch. Oftentimes the mere threat of a DNA test resulting in a warning or a fine has improved cleanliness habits from dog owners. Of course, I always go to those times when one of our dogs is not having a good day and no matter how skilled we are with our poop bags, the stuff can’t be picked up. We’ve all be there. How can a tenant explain away an upset tummy? I’m hoping properties have a little leniency for those special situations.

The expense of a DNA test depends on the in-depth testing requested. DNA test kits in magazines like Sky Mall entice pet owners to find out the genetic makeup of their furry friend. The AKC also has DNA test kits for profiling our purebred dogs and it keeps this information on file. In order to register a litter sired by a foreign dog, the foreign dog must have a DNA profile before the registration can be completed. And with these same DNA profiles, breeders can use more than one sire for a single litter and test the puppies afterward to determine which dog sired which puppy or puppies. However, as one of our colleagues shared with us after finding out the hard way, should you ever attempt to use multiple sires on a bitch, use two that are not father and son. The DNA profiles are too close to one another to clearly determine the correct sire. In their case, one of the dogs had bred another bitch close to the same time frame and, a proven bitch, she ended up with no puppies, so they were confident that only one dog sired all the puppies from the attempted dual litter.

Part of our on-going efforts to new puppy buyers should include informing them of the positive effects DNA testing has had on our breeding programs. After all, scientists have done their part in providing tools to help us make better informed decisions. And what more could we ask for when fighting for our rights to breed healthier and better dogs? That double helix may be microscopic in size, but it is an enormous tool for breeding better purebred dogs.

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Posted by admin on Feb 18 2013. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.