Information on the Science of DNA testing
A DNA "fingerprint" or profile is made by extracting the DNA and amplifying the regions of interest by a process known as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Fluorescent tags are incorporated in specific genetic sites and identified by reading the results with a laser beam. Computerized dissection of the signals provides a unique identification of the particular DNA sequence at the designated site. By combining multiple results, a definitive profile is developed. Individualization of an individual animal is possible because the statistics of a single animal having the same set of SNPs at many locations on separate chromosomes becomes extremely small, thus providing a unique identifier.
Once a DNA “fingerprint” has been created, it can be compared against evidence or searched against other DNA “fingerprints” in databases. For animal databases, there are no extensive, publically-available, national forensic systems in place. Specialized databases exist for horses and cows. The American Kennel Club maintains a database for canine DNA, but it is more directed toward parentage and species identification.
Disease Listing
Click here for a complete list of our screened diseases.
Glossary
Click here for a list of terms and definitions.
Web Resources
www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/faq/snps.shtmlwww.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/#
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050525110435.htm
www.scientific.org/tutorials/articles/riley/riley.html
www.cstl.nist.gov/div831/strbase/images/STRBase.pdf
www.sciencemag.org/
www.avma.org/
www.dnadiagnostics.com/index_files/Page444.htm
www.bris.ac.uk/vetpath/lvd/cppkd.htm
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18846816/site/newsweek/page/0/
www.springerlink.com/content/g8g33n56p1434389/
www.dvmnews.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=146676&sk=&date=&pageID=3
