What is ChromaGene Coat Color in Dogs?

While it is not uncommon to see a yellow Labrador Retriever with a litter of black puppies, it is still perplexing. The expectation is at least one of the pups would have the mother's pale coat color. It can be a source of frustration for buyers and breeders alike. Fortunately, science has paved the way to a solution with ChromaGene Coat Color.

  1. Description

    • Genetic coat color in dogs is something that breeders and researches know exists inside the DNA composition of animals. VetGen developed a test for coat color it calls ChromaGene. This test involves taking a DNA sample from the dog to determine the animal's color genetic structure. These types of DNA test expand into some types of disease as well as breed determination; however, the design of ChromaGene is only for determining the inheritable coat colors in dogs.

    Details

    • Coat color, like many other inheritable traits, has specific locations on the chromosomes called loci. Each locus has a different factor in the color, whether a primary trait or one that produces a combined effect. The pup has half of each parent's genetic makeup. This kind of testing can reveal color traits that may be hiding in each of the parents. ChromaGene takes the complex color variations and breaks them down into easy to understand probabilities.

    Uses

    • With the test results for each dog, breeding becomes much more predictable. While nothing is a guarantee, knowing the odds of what the litter could be helps eliminate the surprises. Several breeders are now offering these genetic test results for puppies. If you purchase a dog for breeding and have the coat color genetics test you will know if that yellow pup has any chance of producing chocolate puppies as well.

    Availability

    • VetGen sells the ChromaGene coat color, and it is available from its website along with other options for genetic testing, including testing for certain diseases, coat length and breed determination. ChromaGene is the trademark name of the test offered by VetGen. However, HealthGene and certain veterinary offices offer similar canine genetic coat color services. Other companies offer services that target breed-specific coat colors, such as those for dobermans, great danes and terriers.

    Safety

    • Generally, these tests can be conducted at any time after the birth of the pup. Most places require two or more swabs from the inside of the dog's cheek. Alternative to the swap is a drawn blood sample. The cheek swabs are less intrusive and usually more convenient to perform, especially on newborn puppies. It is unobtrusive and safe to do on any age dog. Upon conclusion of the test, most companies send you a certificate to authenticate the results in addition to giving the probability statistics for the breeding of the tested dog.