Mars Veterinary
As an industry leader in pet genetics, Mars Veterinary works with the worlds leading authorities in companion animal genome research. Mars is unlocking the mystery of companion animal genetics by examining the dog genome to explore the unique makeup of individual pets.
Wisdom Panel Mixed Breed Analysis
In order to administer Wisdom Panel MX, the veterinarian simply draws a small sample of blood and mails the sample to the laboratory for analysis.
Upon arrival at the genetic analysis laboratory, the DNA sample is processed as follows
- The DNA is extracted from the blood cells using a validated, commercially available laboratory procedure.
- Each DNA sample is split into 12 different tests reactions - each reaction is analyzed using up to 28 unique SNP markers - guaranteeing that each dog DNA sample is typed at more than 300 different SNP markers across the genome.
- The SNPs are typed using selective hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, followed by a discriminatory single base-pair primer extension reaction.
- All of the marker variants are detected by mass spectrometry and analysis by the computer and the results are captured as a computer-generated data file.
- As a quality control measure, a result is only issued after a sufficient number of SNPs are detected by the mass spectrometer for the analysis to be valid.
- Once the variant type at each of the 300 SNPs has been identified, the information is processed using a high-performance cluster of computers.
- A comparison is made for each marker in the panel against all the specific breed signatures in the comprehensive breed database.
- A report is generated that lists the breeds detected in the sample and the strength of the match to the database signature.