CavalierCampaign.com
Campaign to improve the health of Pedigree Dogs
Breeding Values - Page 2
Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) - An Effort to Save the Cavalier Breed
Identifying the genes for Syringomyelia
At the same time Dr Guy Rouleau and Dr Zoha Kibar at the University of Montreal, Canada, are using the Rusbridge/Knowler database and DNA to identify the causative genes for Syringomyelia.
Finding the SM genes (or gene markers) could enable breeders to use a DNA test to identify at birth the dogs carrying the defective genes. The genetic information could also be fed into the EBV program, enhancing the accuracy of the breeding values.
Analysis of genetic diseases
Diagram showing different genotypes for dogs with a disease caused by a single gene. Affected or carrier dogs can be identified prior to breeding.
Some canine genetic diseases are caused by single recessive genes, so that you have a healthy non-carrier of the gene, a healthy carrier of the disease gene (the dog has one copy), and a diseased carrier (the dog has two copies of the disease gene).
Other diseases are more complex in that several genes are involved, so depending on how many of these genes are inherited, a dog is severely, moderately or mildly affected by the condition. Expression of the disease may be moderated by environmental factors as well, depending on the nature of the particular disease.
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