Genetic Diversity Testing for Berger Picard

Overview

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL), in collaboration with Dr. Niels C. Pedersen and staff, has developed a panel of short tandem repeat (STR) markers that will determine genetic heterogeneity and diversity across the genome and in the Dog Leukocyte Antigen (DLA) class I and II regions for specified dog populations. This test panel will be useful to dog breeders who wish to use DNA-based testing to track and increase genetic diversity as a supplement to in-depth pedigrees. DNA based information on genetic heterogeneity and diversity, along with DNA testing results for desired phenotypes and health traits, can aid in informing breeding decisions.

Genetic diversity in Berger Picard has been established, and we feel that almost all existing alleles at the 33 STR loci and 7 DLA class I and II regions have been identified. We will continue to add new alleles and haplotypes if they are found, and allele frequencies will be adjusted if necessary. As of September of 2020, 101 Berger Picard from six different countries were used to assess genetic diversity in the breed: USA (88 dogs), Great Britain (6 dogs), The Netherlands (2 dogs), Canada (2 dogs), Denmark (2 dogs), and France (1 dog). Of those, 65 were involved in showing and 18 also participated in performance activities.

Price

$85 one test per animal

$70 when combined with a diagnostic test

ORDER TEST KITS

Results reported as:

Short tandem repeat (STR) loci: A total of 33 STR loci from carefully selected regions of the genome were used to assess genetic heterogeneity and existing genetic diversity within an individual as well as across the breed. The alleles inherited from each parent are displayed graphically to highlight heterozygosity, and breed-wide allele frequency is provided.

DLA haplotypes: Seven STR loci linked to the DLA class I and II genes were used to identify genetic differences in a region that regulates immune responses and self/non-self-recognition. Problems with self/non-self-recognition, along with non-genetic factors in the environment, are responsible for autoimmune disease, allergies, and susceptibility to infectious agents.

Internal Relatedness: The IR value is a measure of the genetic relatedness of an individual's parents. The value takes into consideration both heterozygosity of alleles at each STR loci and their relative frequency in the population. Therefore, IR values heterozygosity over homozygosity and uncommon alleles over common alleles. IR values are unique to each dog; two individuals from different sources may have identical IR values, but a quite different genetic makeup.

Report

Report issued September 21, 2020. Daily updated statistics are here.

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