Genetic testing for diseases in Yorkies still in its infancy...

[pstinard]

Hi,

While doing research on available DNA tests for genetic diseases in Yorkies, I came across a peer-reviewed article from April 2013 that provides a link to an updated list of DNA tests available for genetic diseases in dogs and cats. Yorkies clock in with only three tests--two for eye problems (Primary Lens Luxation and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd), and one for a metabolic disease (L2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria). Genetic testing for Yorkies is still in its infancy . Links to the labs that do the testing are provided:

Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories

[pstinard]

Oh, by the way, there are labs that do testing for coat color genes in Yorkies, including the Biewer trait, but since those are not diseases, they are not included in the database I linked to above.

Oh, and there are also labs that do breed purity testing AND parentage testing. In other words, our dear little Minnie and her parents could be tested to she if she was the offspring of the two reported parents--however, the cost is triple that of a single dog DNA test, so it gets kind of expensive. I only recommend the breed purity test for Minnie for now...

Here's a lab that does coat color and DNA parentage testing for Yorkies: http://www.healthgene.com/canine-dna-testing/

[richards6402]

You are such a breath of fresh air on YT. I have a feeling you have some connection with U of I vet school????? Thank you for everything you have contributed in the short amount of time you have been on this forum.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by richards6402

You are such a breath of fresh air on YT. I have a feeling you have some connection with U of I vet school????? Thank you for everything you have contributed in the short amount of time you have been on this forum.

Thanks . Actually, I'm with the USDA, and canine genetics is not my specialty, but I can understand the literature reasonably well, and can access all of the major veterinary medicine journals on-line. I drive by the vet school on my way to work every day, LOL!

[Nancy1999]

I knew that they were working on a test that would tell you if your dog had the parti trait, but as of last year it still hadn't been available. I assume this is the same test, maybe one of our breeders here knows. Anyway, this should take lots of the guesswork out of things and alleviate some of that paranoia.

A question for you pstinard, I've read that they can produce the genetic code for cats, but they can't do this for dogs yet because the code is so rich and diverse. Is this true and am I even phrasing this correctly? It had something to do with cloning a dog vs. cloning a cat.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I knew that they were working on a test that would tell you if your dog had the parti trait, but as of last year it still hadn't been available. I assume this is the same test, maybe one of our breeders here knows. Anyway, this should take lots of the guesswork out of things and alleviate some of that paranoia.

A question for you pstinard, I've read that they can produce the genetic code for cats, but they can't do this for dogs yet because the code is so rich and diverse. Is this true and am I even phrasing this correctly? It had something to do with cloning a dog vs. cloning a cat.

The feline genome (DNA) has been sequenced. Here is a link that describes this: Domestic cat genome sequenced

It looks like the DNA of a boxer has been sequenced too. Here is a link to information: Dog Genome Project | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

It looks like the dog genome was sequenced two years before the cat...

[Yorkiemom1]

Your contributions to date, and I am sure in the future, are absolutely
priceless...especially to those of us that are breeding these wonderful dogs, and trying so very diligently to step gingerly thru the minefield of diseases and conditions that affect our beloved breed!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by pstinard

The feline genome (DNA) has been sequenced. Here is a link that describes this: Domestic cat genome sequenced

It looks like the DNA of a boxer has been sequenced too. Here is a link to information: Dog Genome Project | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

I think that the cat sequencing project is a little bit ahead of the dog sequencing project (the dog is chasing the cat, LOL ), but both have been done, at least in a preliminary sense of the word.

Oh thank you for understanding my question.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Oh thank you for understanding my question.

Yes, I knew what you meant . And I need to correct myself--the dog genome was actually sequenced 2 years before the cat genome (2005 vs. 2007). Needless to say, they are still analyzing the data, and since they only completely sequenced single animals, they need to do more sequencing to determine the differences between breeds.

[Nancy1999]

Oh this is interesting for any dog, not just the Yorkie: Dog Diseases | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard


We need DNA samples from purebred dogs suffering from the diseases we are currently studying (described below), as well as from older, healthy dogs from the same breeds. If you would like to submit a sample, please ask your veterinarian to collect 5 milliliters of blood from your dog (click here for more information). Although we appreciate that many people and dogs want to help, using samples from only purebred dogs will ensure the fastest progress for all dogs.

Diseases we study:






Cancers
•Hemangiosarcoma
• Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
• Lymphoma
• Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)
• Mammary Tumors
• Melanoma (skin cancer)
• Glioma

Cardiovascular Diseases

•Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Degenerative valve disease

Neurological Disease & Behavior
•Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Idiopatic epilepsy
•Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Immunological & Metabolic Diseases

•Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF)
• Addison's disease
•Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO)
•Atopic dermatitis
•Diabetes
•Lymphocytic thyroiditis
•Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
•Toller Diseases (SLE & SRMA)
Other
•Dermoid sinus (DS)
•Juvenile Demodicosis
•Juvenile Renal Dysplasia (JRD)
•Hairlessness/Canine Ectodermal Dysplaysia (CED)
•Progressive Cone-Rod Dystrophy (PCRD)
•Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Pseudopelade
•White coat color
•Pyometra

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Yes, I knew what you meant . And I need to correct myself--the dog genome was actually sequenced 2 years before the cat genome (2005 vs. 2007). Needless to say, they are still analyzing the data, and since they only completely sequenced single animals, they need to do more sequencing to determine the differences between breeds.

So sequencing is different than understanding the sequence? I don't know why, but I'm really excited about all this, it just seems like we can learn so much.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Hi,

While doing research on available DNA tests for genetic diseases in Yorkies, I came across a peer-reviewed article from April 2013 that provides a link to an updated list of DNA tests available for genetic diseases in dogs and cats. Yorkies clock in with only three tests--two for eye problems (Primary Lens Luxation and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd), and one for a metabolic disease (L2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria). Genetic testing for Yorkies is still in its infancy . Links to the labs that do the testing are provided:

Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories

I knew of two. But what about hyperuricosuria I thought that genetic test was relevant across all breeds?

[gemy]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Hi,

While doing research on available DNA tests for genetic diseases in Yorkies, I came across a peer-reviewed article from April 2013 that provides a link to an updated list of DNA tests available for genetic diseases in dogs and cats. Yorkies clock in with only three tests--two for eye problems (Primary Lens Luxation and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd), and one for a metabolic disease (L2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria). Genetic testing for Yorkies is still in its infancy . Links to the labs that do the testing are provided:

Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories

Phil it is in its infancy in almost all breeds. Some huge across very many breeds are HD and ED.

Cancer.

Cataracts

Deafness - some tests are available genetically for some breeds.

Heart Disease of various types how about PDA which can affect almost any breed?

DLSS thought to be genetic in a few breeds no genetic marker yet.


Hyperuricosuria genetic test of of U of Davis. is that the same as the L2 genetic test?


You have stepped into a vast pool. We the dog fancy world and vets are literally in the infancy of having many true genetic tests.

I can not stress enough how important this is. In particular those genetic markers and tests that pre screen across very many breeds of dogs.

You are a Godsend to this board if you can bear with us breeders, who have so many questions.

I am looking at COI and how to interpolate sibling results into a breeding matrix selection program?

And as we all know we hardly ever get sibling results.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by gemy

I knew of two. But what about hyperuricosuria I thought that genetic test was relevant across all breeds?

You can check it by illness, and it shows they have a test for 15 breeds.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

So sequencing is different than understanding the sequence? I don't know why, but I'm really excited about all this, it just seems like we can learn so much.

Hi Nancy, sequencing is just getting the DNA sequence--it looks like a string of letters of various combinations of C, A, G, and T. I doesn't mean anything until you understand what genes the DNA codes for, how they interact and are regulated, etc., and what happens when there is change (mutation) in the sequence. That extra work requires a lot of computer and lab work, and time...