Animal Genetics

DNA Diagnostics, a full service genotyping laboratory, is committed to serve the animal industry with the finest in genetic testing services. VeriSNP™ universal genetic evaluation allows individuals and breed registries of the most common domestic species to identify, parent verify, sex, diagnose genetic disease and define desirable traits like color in their animals in one convenient and inexpensive test.  Since 1985, DNA Diagnostics has provided genetic testing and disease diagnostic services to the animal industry. In that time, we have been privileged to be able to work with individuals, members, and the outstanding staff of numerous breed registries. We provide them with the finest service in the industry along with unparalleled competitive pricing.  

Current VeriSNP™ tests include cats, dogs and horses and are listed at the bottom of this page. To order and for pricing, see the Order Tests page on this website.

Our commitment to you:
 

	1) Accurate Genetic Analysis and Parentage Control 2) Consultation 3) Research and Development 4) Sample Storage 5) Cost Effective Pricing 6) Electronic Transmission of Results 7) Trait and Disease Testing 8) Marker Assisted Selection 9) Expert Legal Testimony

Accurate Genetic Analysis and Parentage Control

DNA Diagnostics is committed to excellence in DNA analysis. To insure our optimal performance, Having both experience and expertise that is internationally recognized, DNA Diagnostics will provide registries or individuals with outstanding credentials as well as accurate and standardized genetic testing.

Currently, DNA Diagnostics provides a number of breed registries with bloodstock testing and databasing, as well as parentage verification services using VeriSNP™ universal genetic evaluation. In parentage cases that cannot be solved by routine DNA analysis due to the death of the sire or dam, DNA Diagnostics provides DNA type reconstruction or DNA forensic analysis of remains if available, to solve these cases. DNA Diagnostics also offers exclusion management services. This includes investigating each exclusion to help determine the best course of action necessary to resolve the exclusion.

DNA Diagnostics is the only laboratory in the United States that performs large scale contract genetic testing as well as human DNA testing. Our experience in the field of human forensic testing has enabled us to publish scientific research on forensic analysis of DNA in horses, dogs, and human. The experience in the field of human DNA testing has advanced DNA Diagnostics' research capabilities as well as kept us on the cutting edge of the latest DNA technologies.

 Sample Storage

Shelterwood Laboratories archives samples on every horse that our laboratory has tested for registry applications. Additionally, we provide this service for individuals submitting samples at their request. In the future, as more DNA based tests for individual traits become available, animals that have stored DNA samples can be tested, if desired, for these traits without submission of a new sample

 Cost Effective Pricing

Shelterwood Laboratories has the most competitive price structure in the genetic testing service industry. Currently, our pricing is on a per animal tested basis. We take pride in offering quality and experienced service at a reasonable price.

 Electronic Transmission of Results

Transmission of results is available electronically on an as needed basis.

Trait and Disease Testing

Shelterwood Laboratories performs disease susceptibility testing and trait testing as a part of the DNA testing services.

Marker Assisted Selection

Using the DNA tests, breeders can select for matings that will prevent genetic or neonatal disease or increase the chances of breeding for a foal that exhibits a variety of desirable traits such as certain coat colors. This is called marker-assisted selection. Each year, the staff at DNA Diagnostics assists numerous individuals in choosing sires to meet their specific breeding needs, whether it be increasing the likelihood of the birth of an offspring with a specific coloration, or breeding to prevent diseases like muscular dystrophy or lethal white foal syndrome.

Current VeriSNP™ tests include cats, dogs and horses and are listed below:

TO ORDER VeriSNP™ FOR CATS We are currently moving to a new facility.  Please check back with us in 2013.

VeriSNP™ for Cats includes:

• Identity/Parentage Markers and Sex determinate markers
  
• Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI,VI Mild and MPSVII (MPS1, MPSM, MPSDSH and MPS7)
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (MYBPC3 M and MYBPC3R)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Hemophilia Type 4 (HEMO4)
• Hemophilia Type 8 (HEMO8)
• Niemann Pick C-1 Disease (NIEMANN)
• B blood type (BLDAB)
• Albino (ALBIN)
• Cinnamon (CINNAM)
• Chocolate (CHOC2)
• Points (Points1 and Points2)
• Recessive black (BLCK)
• Dilute (DILUT) 
• FGF5 longhair (FGF5_1, 2,and 4)

Understanding your VeriSNP™ Results in Cats

 -/-   IS NEGATIVE - The cat does not possess the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and therefore will not pass it to its offspring.
+/-   IS A CARRIER - The cat carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has one normal gene and one affected gene and therefore will pass the trait to 50% of its offspring.
+/+   IS POSITIVE - The cat carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has two affected genes and therefore will pass the trait to 100% of its offspring.

 Understanding the abbreviations for identity, physical attributes and diseases:

 1. Identity and Sex

Markers starting with FC – These are identity markers used to identify the cat and to compare the cat to its sire and dam for parent verification.  The 4 letters seen over this group of FC markers are abbreviations for the 4 nucleic acids (T,A,C,G) that comprise DNA and are inherited from the parents.   

ZFXY1 and ZFXY2 - These are sex determinate markers. 

2. Disease Markers

 MPS1 and 7- Mucopolysaccharidosis more SEVERE form   The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS)1 are a group of lysosomal storage disorders that involve the deficiency of specific enzymes required for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans.  The disease is characterized by the lysosomal accumulation and urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate . The clinical phenotype or appearance of MPS VI patients ranges from severe to relatively mild. The severe phenotype is characterized by growth retardation, coarse facial features, joint stiffness, corneal clouding, skeletal deformities, and organ and soft tissue involvement.  As a result of DS storage in the heart valve and lung, the normal function of these organs is often compromised, leading to early death in affected individuals. (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information)

 MPSM- Mucopolysaccharidosis  MILD form  This is the mild form of MPS1 (see above) (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.)

 MYBPC3M- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)  This is the form of HCM observed in Maine Coon cats.  It causes heart failure in affected animals. (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.)    

MYBPC3R- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)  This is the form of HCM observed in Ragdoll cats.  It causes heart failure in affected animals. (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.) 

 PKD-Polycystic Kidney Disease  This disease causes kidney failure in affected animals. (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.) 

PRA- Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease that causes the retina in the back of the eye to degenerate causing poor vision and blindness.  (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.)

BLDAB - B Blood Group  This test determines the B blood type in cats.  Being highly antigenic, it can be the cause of transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis. (Please consult your veterinarian for all symptoms and complete information.)  This test is not validated in Ragdolls and Turkish Angora and results may differ from serologic results.

Physical Attributes

 ALBIN- Albino coloration

 CINNAM- Cinnamon coloration

 Point1-Siamese points

 Point 2-Burmese points

 CHOC2-Chocolate coloration.             

DILUT - Dilute coloration  This is a mutation that affects both types of melanin and  results in black to grey and orange to cream color, chocolate to lilac/lavender. 

TO ORDER VeriSNP™ FOR CATS We are currently moving to a new facility. Please check back in 2013.

VeriSNP™ for Horses includes:

• Identity/Parentage Markers
• Cream dilution
• Red (Chestnut)
• Tobiano
• Silver
• Sabino 1
• Agouti (Bay)
• Champagne
• Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)
• Lethal White Overo (OLWS)
• Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency (GBED)
• Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa (JEB)
• HERDA (HERDA-QH)
• Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)
•                                                                                                                           
  Understanding your VeriSNP™ Results in Horses

 -/-   IS NEGATIVE - The horse does not possess the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and therefore will not pass it to its offspring.
+/-   IS A CARRIER - The horse carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has one normal gene and one affected gene and therefore will pass the trait to 50% of its offspring.
+/+   IS POSITIVE - The horse carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has two affected genes and therefore will pass the trait to 100% of its offspring.

 Understanding the abbreviations for identity, physical attributes and diseases:

 1. Identity 

Markers starting with ECA – These are identity markers used to identify the horse and to compare the horse to its sire and dam for parent verification.  The 4 letters seen over this group of ECA markers are abbreviations for the 4 nucleic acids (T,A,C,G) that comprise DNA and are inherited from the parents.  

VeriSNP™  for Dogs includes:

• Identity/Parentage Markers     
• Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (VMD2_1-G73T)
• Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (VMD2_2-G482)
• Cone degeneration (CD)
  
• Cystinuria (CYST)
• GMI Gangliosidosis (GMIG)
• Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (GCL)
• Glycogen Storage Disease (GSDia-GSDi)
• Hemophilia B (HmB)
• Hypothyroidism with Goiter (HTG) (Congenital Hypothyroidism)
• L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L2HGDH-1)
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (GUSB__NOSVVIII)
• Multidrug Sensitivity Test (MDR1)
• Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
• Myotonia Congenita (MC)
• Narcolepsy (NARC)
• Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (ENCEPH-NEWS)
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL_BD-NCL)
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN2-TPP1-CLN2)
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN5_B_C-CLN5)
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN8_DOG-CLN8)
• Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (PFK)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (MASTIFF)
  
• Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase 1 Deficiency (PDP1-PDP)
• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD-PKD)
• Retinal Dystrophy (prad) 
• SCID (DNA-PKc & DNA-PKc2) 
• Thrombasthenic Thrombopathia (THROM)
• VonWillebrands type 2- Type 2 only, not Type 1 or 3 (vWD 2)
• MLPH (Dilute) (DOG_MLPH-MLPH)
• Red/Yellow (MC1R_YELLO-YELL)
• Mask (DOG_MASK-MASK)
• TYRP (3 Markers for Chocolate) (TYRP1_345P-345D)
• TYRP (TYRP1-MC1R-S41C)
• TYRP (TYRP1_EX5-Q331)
• Agouti (AGOUTI_DOG-A82S)
• Agouti (AGOUTI_DOG-R96C)
• Black (BLCK_CF-blk)
• Longhair (FGF5_CF-LONG)
• Sex determination (fxy1_CF-xy2)

Understanding your VeriSNP™ Results in Dogs

-/-   IS NEGATIVE - The dog does not possess the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and therefore will not pass it to its offspring.
+/-   IS A CARRIER - The dog carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has one normal gene and one affected gene and therefore will pass the trait to 50% of its offspring.
+/+   IS POSITIVE - The dog carries the physical attribute and/or disease being tested and has two affected genes and therefore will pass the trait to 100% of its offspring.

 Understanding the abbreviations for identity, physical attributes and diseases:

 1. Identity and Sex

Markers starting with DOG CF or CF – These are identity markers used to identify the dog and to compare the dog to its sire and dam for parent verification.  The 4 letters seen over this group of markers are abbreviations for the 4 nucleic acids (T,A,C,G) that comprise DNA and are inherited from the parents.  

 VeriSNP™ universal genetic evaluations will be available soon for other species.