Ricordo Modry Efekt "Noa"

DNA test for the color

 

Determining of the color genotype is very important if we want to predict the color of the puppies of a particular mating. There are several genes that are important for Great Danes.

 

D-gene - determines the dilution of the basic color. It can have two allels - D and d. A black dog that has D/D does not carry the dilution (blue) allele; a black dog with D/d carries the blue allele; blue dogs have d/d.

Noa is D/D. That means that he does not carry the blue allele and can not produce blue puppies from a blue female. He would not produce blue spots with a harlequin female even if she is carrying a blue allele. 

 

B-gene - determines the presence of chocolate/liver color. Dogs that are b/b, will have chocolate coats instead of black or pale brown coats instead of blue. The markings would be chocolate on the Harlequin or merle dogs.

Noa is B/B. That means that he is not carrier of chocolade/liver color.

 

K-gene with possible alleles K, kbr and k. K gives a solid (black, blue, brown) color, therefore all dogs that have at least one K allele will appear as solidly colored. kbr is brindle and a dog with kbr/kbr or kbr/k genotype will be brindle. k allows for the gene for the agouti color to be expressed and gives the fawn dogs in homozygous combination.

Noa is KB/KB. That means that he does not carry allels for fawn or brindle color.

 

All in all, Noa has solid black color and does not have any mix of other (known) colors in his genes.

 

 

Finally, here are several useful links where more information about color genetics can be found:

 

http://www.vhlgenetics.com/Webshop/Dieren/Hond/tabid/256/catid/6/language/nl-NL/Default.aspx

 

http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/danes.htm

 

http://www.chromadane.com/index.php/en/chromalinx/89-great-dane-specific-coat-color-info/123-mantle-danes-genotype-phenotype

 

http://www.chromadane.com/index.php/en/chromalinx/99-great-dane-specific-coat-color-info/great-dane-color-historical/132-coat-color-in-the-great-dane-breed-history-and-current-genetics

 

http://www.gdca.org/health/Coat-Color-Testing.html

 

http://www.healthgene.com/canine-dna-testing/color-testing/?tid=4&btid=77

 

http://www.chromadane.com/index.php/en/chromalinx/89-great-dane-specific-coat-color-info/120-aoac-color-breeding-in-the-great-dane

 

 

Hip dysplasia

 

Noa has been tested with a relatively new method called PennHip. With this method, X-ray photos are made not only in the two approved postiions of the hips, but also in a third position. With this photo the laxity of the hip joint can be determined and the so-called "distraction index" calculated. This index gives an idea of how loose the hip joints are. The index is breed-specific - some breeds have thighter hips than others. It is widely accepted that with indexes close to or lower than 0.3, there is a very low chance of developing of hip dysplasia. The score is compared to all other scores of dogs from the same breed present in the database up to the moment of the test. 

 

Noa has a distraction index 0.30 of his left hip and 0.37 of his right hip. He had a better score than 60% of the Great Danes in the database. The certificate can be found here.

 

Noa has also been tested with the regular HD/ED test and the hip and elbow joints were normal. The certificate can be found here.     

 

DCM

 

The echo on Noa's heart did not show any abnormalities (test performed on 12th of February 2016). The ECG revealed an increased number of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs). The importance or relevance of this finding is not well understood for Great Danes. It was concluded that he was free of DCM at the moment of test, with an overall conclusion of “none or minimal cardiovascular changes”, or score 0, which is the best possible score. Based on the observation of the VPCs, another check of Noa's heart was recommended after 18 months. The certificate can be found here.

 

 

DNA markers

 

Ricordo has also a DNA profile deposited. The test results are available on request.