Genetics Centre will allow new approach to breeding

THE ERADICATION of inherited disease in dogs took a huge step forward at Crufts with the launch of a new canine genetics centre.
The centre, which will be the result of a collaboration between the Kennel Club and the Animal Health Trust (AHT), will accelerate research into inherited canine disease.
It aims to create further diagnostic tests which, together with breeding advice, will improve the health and welfare of generations of dogs.
“Due to the small gene pool in purebred dogs, inherited diseases resulting from single gene mutations are more likely to occur than in their crossbred cousins,” said a spokesman for the AHT.
“There are more than five million purebred dogs in the UK alone and many of these will benefit from the findings of the genetics centre.”
Over the next five years, the centre aims to investigate 25 inherited diseases. It will develop, where possible, screening tests to determine affected and carrier dogs. The tests will be performed by means of mouth swabs. In deciding which diseases to investigate, the KC/AHT team will look at their impact on the health and welfare of dogs and on the support of breeders and access to data and samples.
The AHT’s chief executive, Dr Peter Webbon, said: “We’re delighted to work in partnership with the KC on this important welfare issue. Our level of skill and expertise within this field is unparalleled and the new centre enables us to extend our current range of DNA tests.
“We hope, in time, this will equip breeders with essential information so they can plan successful breeding strategies to avoid the birth of affected dogs and, ultimately, to eliminate disease from breeds at risk.”
Dr Cathryn Mellersh and Dr Sarah Blott, two of the AHT’s genetics experts, will lead the centre. Both have been fundamental in identifying defective genes and developing screening tests which identify a dog’s genetic status and minimise the risk of producing affected puppies.
The centre will also introduce a new approach to breeding. One major advance will be estimated breeding values (EBVs), which will enable whole dog populations to be evaluated for inherited disease – even if individuals have been scanned or DNA-tested themselves.
KC spokesman Caroline Kisko said: “We are pleased to support research which improves the health and happiness of dogs. Working with the AHT means we can start to tackle the problem of inherited disease much quicker.
“We have already made significant investment in this area and are now delighted to step up the scope of this research. It is a very real possibility that through this centre we will be able to eradicate certain inherited diseases in some dogs.”