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HELP PRA Research Project!
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Individual DNA/PRA Dog Info Form
Sample Handling/Labeling Information
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ESSFTA Confirmation Form and Fee |
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The AKC also has a DNA program. Is this program the same thing as the
ESSFTA Foundation DNA Bank? Just what is the ESSFTA Foundation DNA Bank? |
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They are two very
different programs. The AKC program is for dog and parental
identification purposes only. They use 10-20 different DNA markers which,
according to our current knowledge, are unrelated to canine disease or
anything else, but are unique to every individual dog with the possible
exception of two dogs that are identical twins. The DNA configuration can
also be used to determine the parentage of each individual dog. Therefore,
the differences in these markers between dogs can be used to make,
virtually, a positive identification of any particular dog or its
parents. The purpose of the AKC DNA program is not disease research but
pedigree integrity. This can be accomplished by using their panel of
identified markers. |
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The ESSFTA
Foundation DNA Bank, on the other hand, is designed to store DNA for
current and future research and testing, as DNA tests become available.
DNA is isolated from blood, tissue, or frozen semen samples submitted by
owners and stored by Dr. Gary Johnson of the University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine. Banked DNA may be withdrawn by either Dr.
Johnson or by the ESSFTA Foundation for approved research projects of
benefit to English Springer Spaniels. Ten percent of the DNA sample from
each dog is available to be withdrawn by the donor for DNA tests available
now or which may be available in the future. Samples can be donated by a
dog’s owner or by a breeder, if the samples were collected from a litter
of puppies. |
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What kinds of
research will be done with the banked DNA? |
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It is impossible to
predict what research may be done with our Springers’ DNA fifty or 100
years from now. In the near term, however, the DNA may be used in
research on such diseases as epilepsy and PRA. Conceivably, research may
be developed to determine aspects of such characteristics as scenting
ability or temperament. As the lifespan of our Springers increases,
research into diseases of aging may become more important. Research, such
as our recent PFK study, using a random sample of dogs from the DNA Bank,
might be accomplished in a matter of weeks at minimal cost rather than
taking two or more years. |
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What type of
sample is required from my dog?
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We are requesting
10cc’s of whole blood from adult dogs and older puppies. From young
puppies, 3cc’s are sufficient, though you may want to send an additional
sample when they are older so that there is more DNA banked. The 10cc’s
may be sent in either a 10cc tube or two 5cc tubes. Docked newborn tail
tips may be sent to the DNA Bank instead of blood, saving the cost of an
additional procedure by your veterinarian. In addition, DNA can be
isolated from frozen semen (2 straws) or from tissue samples collected
during surgery or when a dog passes away. |
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Why can’t I just
send in a cheek swab? |
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Cheek swabs simply
do not provide enough DNA to be useful for research purposes. DNA is
isolated from the nucleus of cells - in a cheek swab a few cells from the
cheek lining are picked up and provide a small amount of DNA. From a
blood sample, DNA is isolated from the white blood cells and 10cc’s
provide a good amount of usable DNA. Tissue samples (including tails) are
almost solid cells and provide an enormous amount of DNA. However, tissue
samples are much more difficult to collect. When tests are developed,
only a small amount of DNA will be needed to run the few markers for that
test. However, in research, the markers are as yet unknown. There is no
way to know if 200, 2000 or more tests will have to be run before answers
can be found. Obviously, this requires much more DNA than cheek swabs can
provide. |
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What is the cost
for putting my dog’s sample in the DNA Bank? |
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Dr. Johnson is
charging the Foundation $10.00 per dog for processing the samples and for
storage in perpetuity. The Foundation collects this fee and sends it to
Dr. Johnson. Those submitting samples to Dr. Johnson should be sure to
complete the proper form and submit this and the fee to the Foundation.
The dog’s owner is responsible for veterinary charges and the cost of
shipping the sample to Columbia, Missouri. |
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What paperwork
will be required? |
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At the present time
a short health form, a pedigree, preferably five generations, your name
and address sent to Dr. Johnson’s lab and a short form to be sent to the
Foundation with your $10.00 fee is required. The health form is a form in
process and will change through the years. From time-to-time, Dr.
Johnson’s staff may contact you to provide additional information. If the
dog develops a disease, testing (such as CERF, OFA, etc.) is done, or
there are any changes in the dog’s status, you should notify Dr. Johnson’s
lab to update the records. The dog’s AKC, CKC or other registration
information along with the dog’s registered name is required. For litters
of puppies, the identification you are using for each pup can be sent in
with the blood or tail sample. When the puppies have new owners,
registration numbers and registered names send an update to Dr. Johnson’s
lab. |
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Won’t drawing
10cc’s of blood at a show, match or trial hurt my dog’s performance? |
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Ten cc’s of blood is
a little less than two teaspoons. Compared to the total volume of a dog’s
blood, this is not very much and should not impact a dog’s performance.
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I want to
contribute to both the DNA Bank and the Epilepsy Study. Do I have to send
in two samples? |
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No, only one. Since
Dr. Johnson is also collecting DNA for the epilepsy study, two samples
will not be required. Simply indicate on the health questionnaire that
you want your sample to be included in the epilepsy study. |
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What about
confidentiality? |
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Only Dr. Johnson’s
staff will know the identities of individual samples. No one else will
have access to the identities of the DNA of any individual dog. |
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If my club (or I)
wishes to organize a blood draw for the DNA Bank, how should we do this?
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Contact Liz Hansen,
University of Missouri DNA Bank and Project Coordinator, who will send you
copies of the necessary forms to be filled out. She will also give you
the proper blood drawing procedures, labeling and shipping instructions
for the blood samples, and other necessary information. Liz can be
reached by e-mail at
HansenL@missouri.edu. The ESSFTA Foundation will
partially subsidize the expenses of an organized blood draw. The
Foundation will, following the event, help with expenses to the extent of
$2.00/dog. |
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What will be the
charge for withdrawing a part of the sample that I own from the Bank? |
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Dr. Johnson’s staff
will be able to send a portion of the DNA you donated to a laboratory you
designate for genetic testing for a specific disease. There is a
preparation charge for Dr. Johnson’s staff to prepare samples for shipment
to other labs. You would also be responsible for the cost of shipping.
If you request a portion of the DNA from your dog for a genetic test, it
will probably cost you less than $10.00 plus shipping charges |
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Since the sample
placed in the DNA Bank represents a donation to the ESSFTA Foundation, can
I get a deduction from my Federal Income Tax? |
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Since you will have
access to ten percent of the DNA sample for your own purposes, ninety
percent of the $10.00 processing and storage fee, your veterinarian and
shipping charges should be deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes as a
charitable donation to the ESSFTA Foundation. |
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Who can I contact
if I have additional questions? |
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You may contact Dr.
Johnson’s DNA Bank and Project Coordinator, Liz Hansen at
HansenL@missouri.edu, phone 573-884-3712, or write to her at 209A
Connaway Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211.
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