New DNA kits unlock pet pedigrees
Curious dog owners can now determine their mutt's ancestry.
from the July 5, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 4
Genetic identification tests, however, do more than satisfy owner curiosity, says Scotlund Haisley, executive director of the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C. They could also expedite adoption and placement of animals. "This could be a major asset to our work, revealing possible health and behavior information that will help us find just the right home for the dog," he says.
For now, Mr. Haisely says it's too costly to identify all of the shelter's canine charges. But he plans to hold a DNA test day for adopters as a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.
"Many adopters want to explore the roots of their animals," he says, adding that some owners have traveled to where their pet was originally found in an effort to learn more about them.
DNA tests may seem futuristic. But they've long been used in the purebred world, helping to verify pedigree and determine which dogs to mate. Now mixed breeds, which account for almost half of the US canine population, will benefit, too.
The test results present a blueprint for understanding where some of the physical and behavioral traits seen in each unique mixed breed dog may have come from, says Paul Jones, a genetic researcher for Mars Veterinary, in Leicestershire, England. The company's test, which requires a blood sample, identifies 134 AKC-recognized breeds and will cost about $120 to $200. Results will take two to three weeks. A six-page report will include the dog's breed analysis as well as information on the appearance and behavioral characteristics of detected breeds. The company says its results, on average, are 95 percent accurate.
Owners should not expect to see the physical or behavioral characteristics of every breed detected in their dog, Jones cautions. "Mixed breeds can show some of the traits from their parents or unusual outcomes of their unique mix," he says.
With the dog genome now fully mapped, he notes, scientists are discovering a wide range of potential uses for DNA-based information. For example, it could make better human-canine matches. "Genetic information about size and behavioral traits, such as trainability and temperament, could help veterinarians identify the most lifestyle-appropriate pet for an owner," says Jones.
Mars is also developing genetic tests for canine diseases and deformities that researchers have found to be genetically transmitted. That test should be available next year, according to Jones.
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