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DNA tests for Cystinuria in dogs.
What is Cystinuria?
A DNA test for Cystinuria
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 Cystinuria, 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 Cystinuria
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