Analysis of inbreeding and diversity by animal species

For the ‘Inbreeding and Diversity’ test, the animal's DNA is examined using SNP arrays (‘SNP chips’, SNP = Single Nucleotide Polymorphism). These ‘chips’ contain tens of thousands of SNP markers that have been selected to cover the entire genome at regular intervals. The more markers a chip contains, the closer they are to each other in the genome and the better the resolution power of the chip used. The higher the resolution, the more reliably the entire genome is represented.  

The assessment of dogs requires a high-resolution chip (high-density array). The reason for this is that most breeds have been characterised by intensive inbreeding in the distant past and continue to exhibit a high average inbreeding coefficient (>20%) due to ongoing inbreeding. “Old” inbreeding regions are relatively short (for details, see ROH) and distributed across the genome; inbreeding regions resulting from more recent inbreeding are more extended.
The array we use comprises approximately 170,000 SNPs. This corresponds to a resolution of 14.4 kb marker spacing. This information content is crucial for reliably identifying long-ago inbreeding patterns and including them for mating evaluations.

Order an inbreeding test for your DOG

For horses and camelids (Dromedaries, Bactrian camels, Alpacas, Llamas), medium-density chips (50,000–80,000 SNP markers) are sufficient. In these animal species, the average extent of inbreeding is significantly lower. Given the relatively low level of inbreeding, the resolution achieved with the chips provides good results in individual and mating evaluations.

Order an inbreeding test for your HORSE

Order an inbreeding test for your DROMEDARY or BACTRIAN CAMEL