Sure. I included the link for the company who developed (and is continuing to develop I guess) the test used by the OFA. They are looking for a mutation of a marker when they test and their results depend on if they find the marker on one DNA strand, both, or neither. I quoted from the top of their web site ""A relatively high percentage of dogs in several breeds have the > predisposing mutation. With the testing done thus far (thru February > 2011), the > frequency of the mutation is over 70% in Boxers, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, > and > Wire Fox Terriers. There are another 10 breeds where the mutation > frequency is > over 40%." So, as of February 2011 GSDs aren't in the 70%. The company isn't specific so I'm not even certain that we are in the 40%. There had been testing and research that was being done in FL, which was specific to our breed. (Not sure of the status of that but I know the GSDCA gave then $$$$). There has been some concern that markers for different breeds were at different locations on the DNA strand. There has even been speculation that the disease is actually different from breed to breed; one similar to MS, one closer to Lou Gherig's (sp????). WHEN WE DO THIS TEST ARE WE REALLY SCREENING OUR DOGS FOR THE TYPE OF MARKER THAT WOULD INDICATE DM IN SAY...A CORGI????? Ginny has really done her home work on this and I know can explain it much better than I. So, back to the test recognized by the OFA. I guess my concern is, (let's give the test the benefit of the doubt and assume for sake of argument that the test is 40% reliable) and let's say a dog is tested clear. By the company's own admission, the most we can expect is that the test is 40% reliable. THE MOST! Now, I applaud continuing research and I'm ALL ABOUT breeding healthy dogs. Personally, I am relying on pouring over pedigrees for now. A test that may or may not be 40% reliable for our breed....hmmmm.... I agree this is a horrific disease (thankfully, knocking on wood, I've never had it). For now though, give me the pedigree rather than a test that at best, by the company's own admission, as recent as lat month, is at best 40%. Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) In a message dated 2/28/2011 8:10:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, terryr@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Kathy, I am sorry but I do not understand how the quote you included about DM supports your opinion. Could you expound on it. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx> To: <pcooke212@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 6:30 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Cardiac and GSD's > Paula, it's the first site that comes up on google: > > _http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/testDM.htm_ > (http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/testDM.htm) > > I'm quoting: > > "A relatively high percentage of dogs in several breeds have the > predisposing mutation. With the testing done thus far (thru February > 2011), the > frequency of the mutation is over 70% in Boxers, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, > and > Wire Fox Terriers. There are another 10 breeds where the mutation > frequency is > over 40%." > > This is the test used by the OFA. So are we in the 40%????? (You feel > "OK" w/ that????) I'm not even sure if we are in the 40%...again, Ginny > Altman posted a while back, she was far more eloquent than I, but it > appears > that the marker is NOT located in the same place for all breeds...does > anyone > know if the research specific to our breed has been continued in FL???? > > > Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC > Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions > visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) > > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================