STANDARD POODLES LEAD THE WAY! NEW SCIENCE GIVES LIGHT FOR ALL BREEDS TO SECURE GENETIC DIVERSITY DNA RESULTS
by JULIE BORST REED, AKC Breeder of Merit
S tandard Poodle Fanciers were the first to work with Dr. Niels Pedersen at UC Davis in develop- ing a database of Poodle DNA to be tested for genetic diversity using a pro- cess to give a genome-wide result. This was born of the study granted by the Poodle Club of America Foundation to have the Pedersen research team determine inher- ited aspects of Sebaceous Adenitis (SA). After a few years, Dr. Pedersen explained that the study was at a standstill because the DNA submitted was so alike that there were no samples to utilize as controls for the effort. At that point, a small group of dedicat- ed hobbyist working to maintain genetic diversity in the Standard Poodle was con- tacted to work with Dr. Pedersen. Many of this group had started together in the late 1990s working with the all-breed email group, The Canine Diversity Project led by Dr. John Armstrong of Canada. Many Fanciers, after studying the pedigrees of Standard Poodles, were keen to break the high level of inbreeding seen in the most popular line which was quickly becoming the founder base of all Standard Poodles known. By 2002, worldwide, there were no longer any breeding age dogs in the variety known that did not descend from a set of 5 dogs that founded this wildly popu- lar line. Dr. Armstrong was a catalyst for
those studying with him that the time was growing late to set this more in balance with the less related dogs. Dr. Armstrong passed away in the latter half of 2001 or he and Dr. Pedersen would no doubt be the best of study associates.
worked as the coordinator of the Standard Poodle Project Breeders and the UC Davis study once it was indicated that the Ped- ersen team was in need of the less seen throughout the gene pool, pedigreed Stan- dard Poodle DNA. Lynn Brucker, assisted
“MANY FANCIERS, AFTER STUDYING THE PEDIGREES OF STANDARD POODLES, WERE KEEN TO BREAK THE HIGH LEVEL OF INBREEDING SEEN IN THE MOST POPULAR LINE WHICH WAS QUICKLY BECOMING THE FOUNDER BASE OF ALL STANDARD POODLES KNOWN.”
Natalie Green Tessier, a newer breeder/ fancier of Standard Poodles in the fancy less than 10 years, has brought renewed vision. She has come to the Fancy like an angel of understanding. Much gratitude to Natalie in how she has led those interested in genetic diversity through the research phase and now into assisting those learn- ing about the results of their dog’s Canine Genetic Diversity DNA test. Natalie has
by Nancy Clifton, produce/maintain an incredible pedigree database for Standard Poodles that has been of great benefit in the research. Dr. Pedersen’s paper on this study is highly anticipated as to be published soon. Early on, just as he thought the research would end on the SA study, Dr. Pedersen is quoted as saying that the problem for this cherished variety of Poodle is that
260 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2015
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