In a message dated 12/8/2004 2:27:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, HeyJdeShep@xxxxxxx writes: in the event my dog is tested and proves to be carrier for a marker such as DM, is it written in stone that my dog will in fact thru out its life, only carry the marker but the disease will NEVER actually surface and inflict my dog? That would depend on the DNA tests, each disease can be different. I posted earlier on an instance with Poodles. If DNA tests could be this way for DM then the answer could indeed be yes you dog can be a carrier and yet never affected. I suggest you visit the optigen.com website and read some instances of different breeds and DNA markers and how it can help. Yvonne www.creekvue.com ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2004. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================