18.2. DNA Profiles
The worldwide patent for dog DNA profiling is owned by Mars, Incorporated the makers of 3 Musketeers, Dove Bars, M&Ms, Milky Way, Snickers, Twix and others in addition to products like Uncle Bens, Altoids, Big Red, Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, Life Savers, Skittles, Banfield Pet Hospitals, Eukanuba, Greenies, Iams, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Temptations, Wisdom Panel, etc. Consequently, ALL dog DNA profiles will only be done by Wisdom Panel or by companies using the Wisdom Panel technology.
At http://www.wisdompanel.com/why_test_your_dog/faqs/, the question was “Can Wisdom Panel certify a purebred or designer dog?” The answer was,
“If you think your dog is a purebred or a cross between two different purebreds, sometimes referred to as a designer dog, you can indicate this during kit activation and the DNA sample will be analyzed as usual against all the breeds in our database with the breed identification computer program. By distinguishing a particular breed or breeds at activation, however, we will also perform additional analyses that compare how closely your dog’s DNA profile matches to the specific breed(s) you identified. Note that the DNA profiles for some breeds may vary depending on the family line or specific geographic origin of that family line. For example, we have observed different DNA patterns for some purebred dogs in the US and the UK or Australia.”
In other words, no! Otherwise, why didn’t they just say “yes”?
All of this purebred stuff is dependent on the honesty and accuracy of the information submitted to the registries and the Wisdom database.
Ultimately, the accuracy of the database is dependent on the accuracy of the data entered into the database. Consequently, if the database has DNA profiles of dogs called “Pit Bulls” because the samples submitted were claimed to be from “Pit Bulls”, it makes no difference that in fact those samples were from mutts. When other mutt samples are matched to the database, the result will be a mutt being called a “Pit Bull”.
At the time of my original research into DNA profiling several years ago, Wisdom Panel was profiling “Pit Bull” DNA which was the basis for the comments in the preceding two paragraphs.
On June 18, 2016, I read a paper located at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002331500310X, entitled “Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff” by K.R. Olson, J.K. Levy, B. Norby, M.M. Crandall, J.E. Broadhurst, S. Jacks, R.C. Barton, M.S. Zimmerman of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, Jacksonville Humane Society, Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, Tallahassee Animal Services and Marion County Animal Services, Ocala. It stated,
“However, the largest testing service does not offer a DNA test for identification of American pit bull terriers. Additionally, it does not provide a test for ‘pit bulls’, since the term variously refers to a loose collection of breeds and their mixes or to dogs with similar morphology rather than a group of dogs with a controlled gene pool.”
Consequently, I revisited Wisdom Panel and found the following at http://www.wisdompanel.com/why_test_your_dog/faqs/.
“Does Wisdom Panel® test for “Pit-bull”?
The term “Pit-bull” is a bit of a misnomer and does not refer to a single, recognized breed of dog, but rather to a genetically diverse group of breeds, which are associated by certain physical traits. Pit-bull-type dogs have historically been bred by combining guarding-type breeds with terriers for certain desired characteristics. As such they may retain many genetic similarities to their original breeds and other closely related breeds.
Due to the genetic diversity of this group, Mars Veterinary cannot build a DNA profile to genetically identify every dog that may be visually classified as a Pit-bull. When these types of dogs are tested with Wisdom Panel, we routinely detect various quantities of the component purebred dogs including the American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Boxer, Bulldog, and various other Terriers. Additionally, there are often other breeds outside of the Guard and Terrier groups identified in the mix depending on each dog’s individual ancestry.”
The American Dog Breeders Association (“ADBA”), the United Kennel Club (“UKC”), the American Bully Kennel Club (“ABKC”) and many other so-called “Pit Bull” registries/clubs claim to test for “Pit Bull” DNA. However, since all dog DNA testing is done using Wisdom Panel patented processes and Wisdom Panel does not have a “Pit Bull” DNA test, who is doing the “Pit Bull” DNA testing for the ADBA, UKC, ABKC and all the other so-called “Pit Bull” registries/clubs? The AKC does not list a “Pit Bull” as a breed.
We all know that when it comes to money, people may do things that are dishonest to make more money.
In addition, it appears illogical to believe that over the decades or centuries the bloodlines of some other dogs have not gotten mixed into the bloodlines of the current dogs or their ancestors. So, the claim that any dog is a “purebred” does not conform to most individuals’ idea of a purebred, but to the definition that has been provided by the various organizations that deal with “purebreds”.
Can DNA testing determine the breed of a dog?
No. DNA profiling can determine parentage and genetic identity, but not the breed.
The American Kennel Club started their DNA profiling in 2000. The UKC started theirs in 2013.
The UKC has only recently started establishing breed standards, conformation and DNA profiling in connection with their registrations. Apparently, all of this is intended to gain credibility and legitimacy by essentially stating, “look, we do the same thing as the universally recognized and accepted kennel clubs.”
