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A DNA test for CaniAne Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (CLAD)
What is CLAD?
A DNA test for CLAD
Breeds at risk
Breeding policy
Most important is the control of hereditary disorders in breeding programmes.
In order to reduce the frequency of a genetic defect or eliminate it altogether,
the further spread of the mutant gene has to be prevented. When we find an
inherited disorder in our population (in our breed), especially when the
frequency of affected animals is quite high, most of us would want to exclude
all animals that carry the defective allele on the shortest possible term.
That's not always the best thing to do. Eliminating all affected animals
and all carriers from our breeding programmes in just one generation might
result in a tremendous reduction of the breed's gene pool, which could cause
an enormous increase of the level of inbreeding. As a consequence problems with
the vitality of the population would increase and we probably would see outbreaks
of other genetic disorders.
Each dog with the defective allele has many good and important genes that may
be worthwhile to preserve in the population. Selection programmes should be
carried out slowly and carefully, taking a sufficient number of generations to
prevent overselection. That is where the breeders' organizations should take
their responsibility towards their breeds. With the availability of a DNA
test for disorders like CLAD, selection programmes can be extended
to the number of generations needed to make sure that no harm is done to
the breed's gene pool.
Testing for CLAD
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