All living things are defined by DNA. It is the blueprint for life because it codes for information on everything from nutrition to reproduction, respiration, and appearance. Biotechnology has been a revolution not only for humans but also for animals. Today, it is possible to predict disease or genetic disorder, establish parentage and predict phenotype in offspring. Such are the uses of equine DNA testing.
Horses are tested for a variety of reasons. For instance, one may want to know the parents of a foal for breeding purposes. Scientific determination of pedigree information is imperative for accuracy purposes. Traditional methods such as observation, record keeping, and manual identification are not only inadequate but also inaccurate.
The aim of selective breeding is to come up with animals of superior performance or with certain phenotypic characteristics. Use of DNA ensures that this aim is met. The technology of genes may also be applied to determine if a horse possesses the risk of suffering from a certain disease. A genetic profile of the equine should reveal its set of genes from which an analyst can determine probability.
DNA can be tested in various genetic laboratories around the world. A simple search online reveals many companies. They have a set of sample collection procedures and guidelines that one may follow in order to extract the sample to be used for the test. After collection, the samples are sent to the laboratories through post service from anywhere around the world.
The cost of the test depends on the type of test to be carried out. Also, the results can be sent to you, or you can view them online as most of these laboratories have websites. Company representatives also call to explain the results and what they mean for the horse. The results are usually in a chart form and are easily explained to the horse owner.
The collection of samples for testing is not a difficult process. Most tests will require hair from the mane or the tail. Other samples may include cells collected from inside the horses cheek by use of a soft cheek brush. Some other tests may require blood as sample. In such cases, 3ml whole blood is collected using a syringe and stored in an EDTA Vacutainer and labeled. After labeling, it may then be sent to the lab through regular mail.
Once inside the laboratory, the first step is to extract DNA. The hair follicle cells are used in the case of hair, and the cheek and blood cells are separated until the nucleus is obtained. Once extraction is complete, specialized genetic methods are used to produce a profile or genotype of the equine through the use of a standard twelve specific gene marker. From each marker, there are two alleles and one is from each parent.
DNA technology is now part and parcel of everyone of us. It has made our lives better on Earth. Now we can use it on animals during breeding to ensure that we yield high performing horses that are not prone to disease. Also, it is now possible to know the parentage of a horse before breeding and be 100% sure.
Horses are tested for a variety of reasons. For instance, one may want to know the parents of a foal for breeding purposes. Scientific determination of pedigree information is imperative for accuracy purposes. Traditional methods such as observation, record keeping, and manual identification are not only inadequate but also inaccurate.
The aim of selective breeding is to come up with animals of superior performance or with certain phenotypic characteristics. Use of DNA ensures that this aim is met. The technology of genes may also be applied to determine if a horse possesses the risk of suffering from a certain disease. A genetic profile of the equine should reveal its set of genes from which an analyst can determine probability.
DNA can be tested in various genetic laboratories around the world. A simple search online reveals many companies. They have a set of sample collection procedures and guidelines that one may follow in order to extract the sample to be used for the test. After collection, the samples are sent to the laboratories through post service from anywhere around the world.
The cost of the test depends on the type of test to be carried out. Also, the results can be sent to you, or you can view them online as most of these laboratories have websites. Company representatives also call to explain the results and what they mean for the horse. The results are usually in a chart form and are easily explained to the horse owner.
The collection of samples for testing is not a difficult process. Most tests will require hair from the mane or the tail. Other samples may include cells collected from inside the horses cheek by use of a soft cheek brush. Some other tests may require blood as sample. In such cases, 3ml whole blood is collected using a syringe and stored in an EDTA Vacutainer and labeled. After labeling, it may then be sent to the lab through regular mail.
Once inside the laboratory, the first step is to extract DNA. The hair follicle cells are used in the case of hair, and the cheek and blood cells are separated until the nucleus is obtained. Once extraction is complete, specialized genetic methods are used to produce a profile or genotype of the equine through the use of a standard twelve specific gene marker. From each marker, there are two alleles and one is from each parent.
DNA technology is now part and parcel of everyone of us. It has made our lives better on Earth. Now we can use it on animals during breeding to ensure that we yield high performing horses that are not prone to disease. Also, it is now possible to know the parentage of a horse before breeding and be 100% sure.
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