dna test no longer on ofa - Page 1

http://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/genetic-test-for-juvenile-renal-dysplasia-is-flawed

 

The dog genes renal dysplasia DNA test evidently no longer listed on ofa. I was looking for some info on a different topic in the blogs on institute of canine biology when I came upon the above blog. I suspected it was a bogus test....

 

 

 

 

 

 

TBy Carol Beuchat PhD

Renal dysplasia is a serious and complex genetic disorder that occurs in many breeds of dogs. In 2011, a paper by Mary Whiteley and others was published in the respected journal PLoS ONE that claimed to have found a marker for the disorder (you can access that publication here). A DNA test was subsequently made available through Whiteley's company DOGenes.

After the publication of that study, serious concerns were raised about its validity. In 2012 the editors of the journal PLoS published an extraordinary "Expression of Concern" above the abstract of the online article, which I have reproduced below (and you can read here).

In short, the journal editors state that some issues of concern were not addressed during the peer review process, and that they undertook their own review of the study. From that, they concluded that the study was seriously flawed, and that the Cox-2 promotor suggested to be linked to the disorder was in fact a neutral DNA variant.

This is what they said:

"In light of the concerns outlined above, the PLoS ONE editors are issuing this Expression of Concern in order to make readers aware of the concerns about the reliability of the results and conclusions reported in the article."

Nevertheless, DOGenes continues to offer their DNA test based on that study and there is no mention on their site of actions of the journal editors.

The DOGenes test is NOT listed among available DNA tests on the website of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

However, it continues to be listed in the University of Pennsylvania PennGen genetic testing database. In October 2014 I contacted PennGen and asked about this test. They told me that PennGen cannot be responsible for the validity of the DOGenes test, and that a more recent paper by the same author did not address the original concerns.
Breeders should understand that the current DOGenes test for renal dysplasia is based on a study about which the journal editors expressed very serious concerns subsequent to publication.
Note that in the absence of a valid DNA test for renal dysplasia, it can be managed effectively using Estimated Breeding Values like any other heritable trait.

Joan, are you able to translate "renal" dysplasia into Pigeon English for me?

Undeveloped kidneys, putting it simply.

Better to say incomplete development of kidneys, varying degrees.

Thank you! Google said "kidneys", but my mind said "hips", thinking about dysplasia...
Sometimes it´s difficult...

Well, Joan, you called that a loooong time ago...

I don't know of any GSDs who have had that test coming back normal. That's enough to tell me it's flawed. Sad.

True. And now, Finally ! it's been officially exposed.

As an aside, I purchased ten swabs from dogenes but decided not to use them because after extensive research I had my doubts about the test. The lab refused to refund my money, $90.00 each so a total of
$900.00
I kept the swabs, so I still own the most expensive cotton swabs ever, complements of dogenes! Lol.

Certainly speaks to their priority....

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Everyone they duped into using that 'test' and then made breeding decisions based on the results should get together and form a class action against them.

I remember the threads in the past on this test, some very heated arguments occurred.

 

Joanro, I totally agree on your last post, this is disgraceful!!! Thanks for posting this information.