Working together toward a better breed.
The Jack Russell Terrier Research Foundation
Update from University of Missouri
October 12, 2007
From : Liz Hansen, for Dr. Gary Johnson
Animal Molecular Genetics Laboratory
University of Missouri - College of Veterinary Medicine
To the JRTRF and it's members,
We currently have DNA samples from 1562 individual JRT's in the collection here.
The highest priority diseases we have been working on for JRT fanciers are ataxia and lens luxation. We have assembled samples and pedigrees from extended families suitable for mapping for both of these diseases, and are ready to map these using the new SNP chip mapping technology. Last spring we paid Illumina, Inc for chips that were to be delivered in August. The manufacturer did not meet that commitment, and the last word from them was that they would be delivered at the end of October, but no firm date has been set. On Wednesday (10-10-07), we heard from Dr Hannes Lohi, a researcher in Finland that we are collaborating with on several projects. His order of SNP chips had been shipped to him, and was due to arrive at his lab in a couple days. In order to avoid any further delays, we are assembling DNA samples from the ataxia and lens luxation families for analysis in Finland. We hope that these studies will enable us to map these two diseases and lead to DNA marker tests that can distinguish genetically normal dogs, carriers that have one normal and one mutant allele (and can pass either allele to their offspring), and genetically affected dogs that will develop ataxia or lens luxation. Wise use of such DNA tests will allow JRT breeders to avoid disease in future litters, while keeping positive traits in their dogs.
We are also continuing to work on epilepsy in many breeds, including JRT’s. Last week we sent an extended family of Australian Shepherds to Finland to be mapped, and are preparing 2 other breeds to go shortly. We will work through the epilepsy families from the best families (most likely to give successful results due to the quality and quantity of information available in that breed) to those that may be a bit more difficult. Our JRT epilepsy families are not quite ready yet – we would welcome additional samples from epilepsy affected dogs and their normal relatives, so that we can map this disease in JRT’s as well. If there are dogs that were normal when banked but have since started having seizures, we would appreciate an update from those owners so that we can update the records here, and include them in the epilepsy study.
Early next year we intend to begin mapping cataracts in several breeds. If we have sufficient information from JRT’s in the collection (and new dogs sent in for this project), we may be able to use some of the data from mapping ataxia and lens luxation to help speed things along for cataracts in this breed as well.
The new SNP chip technology holds a lot of promise. It has been very frustrating to us that the availability from the manufacturers has been so limited, and has prevented us from using the technology until quite recently. Because we have good collaborations with other labs, we are moving forward on this now, and the chip manufacturers have promised additional availability in the coming months.
We value the partnership we have had with the JRTRF and its members, and hope to continue to move research forward on many fronts, toward better health for JRT’s.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Thank you!
Liz Hansen, for Dr Gary Johnson
