The Ralston Purina DNA Distribution Center: Development and Utility Steven S. Hannah and  Neil Wiegand  Ralston Purina Company

Summary: 

The continued development of the canine genetic map is critical for advancement of research aimed at identification and understanding of the genes involved in canine health and disease. This map is used by geneticists to establish linkage between specific phenotypes, most often disease, and discreet areas of DNA thereby localizing the search for the gene or genes underpinning the trait. Recently, a third generation of the canine genome map was published. (Werner 1999). This high-resolution genetic map consists of nearly 350 frequently spaced markers with an estimated coverage of 95% of the canine genome. In addition to the increased density of markers on the map, Werner, et al. advanced the canine map in other important ways. The new map includes a significant number of type-I markers (gene markers) which allow direct comparison to other maps, most notably the human map. Additionally, many of the linkage groups were assigned to chromosomes. The authors involved in this important paper are to be congratulated for their accomplishments.

While the current map is certainly useful in genetic research, addition of new markers and consolidation of various other canine genome maps into a single resource will prove instrumental in the progress toward identification of genes responsible for canine health and disease. To properly order and space each marker relative to the other markers, each marker must be evaluated across a single set of reference pedigrees. During the 1997 AKC Canine Health Foundation's National Parent Club Canine Health Conference, the top genetic researchers in the canine arena discussed the need for distribution of reference pedigrees. It was agreed that the Cornell canine families, in which most of the previous markers had been mapped, should serve as the reference panel. The Ralston Purina Company agreed to house the reference panels, administrate requests and distribute the panels, and develop necessary accompanying materials geneticists would require to navigate and utilize the complex pedigrees.

The reference panels (generously supplied by Cornell University) consist of 8 pedigrees, each of which represents a grandparent, parent and offspring generation, which in turn establishes phase known meioses. There are a total of 125 individuals represented in the pedigrees. Researchers wishing to place markers onto the current Canine Genome Map can request DNA through Ralston Purina (Dr. Steven Hannah 314-982-2008 or sshannah@purina.com). The applications are circulated for approval by an oversight committee consisting of a representative from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, University California, Davis, CA, and Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, MO. Upon acceptance, the researcher is sent the appropriate set and amounts of DNA from the pedigrees. After the data for linkage is generated, it is then submitted back the oversight committee for review and sufficiently linked markers are placed on the map.

References

Werner P., Mellersh C.S., Raducha M.G., DeRose S., Acland G.M., Prociuk U., Wiegand N., Aguirre G.D., Henthorn P.S., Patterson D.F., and Ostrander E.A. (1999). Anchoring of canine linkage groups with chromosome-specific markers. Mamm. Genome 10:814-823.

Biographical Profile

Dr. Steven Hannah earned a Masters of Science degree in Animal Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Nutrition and Physiological Chemistry from the University of California at Davis. He continued his training at the University of California in Riverside, California, as recipient of the Postdoctoral Research Award in Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology from the National Institutes of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases. Dr. Hannah has authored numerous scientific and technical publications. Dr. Hannah joined Ralston Purina Company in 1995 where he currently serves as a Managing Scientist in the Pet Nutrition and Care Research Department.