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Embark DNA Test Results

MATERNAL HAPLOTYPE

A2

SHAE OF WICKED ANTLER’S HAPLOGROUP

A2 is a very ancient maternal line. Most likely it was one of the major female lines that contributed to the very first domesticated dogs in Central Asia about 15,000 years ago. Some of the line stayed in Central Asia to the present day, and frequently appear as Tibetan Mastiffs and Akitas. Those that escaped the mountains of Central Asia sought out other cold spots, and are now found among Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies. This lineage is also occasionally found in several common Western breeds, such as German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers. Curiously, all New Guinea Singing Dogs descend from this line. These are an ancient and very interesting breed found in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, they are now endangered. They are closely related to the Australian dingo, so you could say its cousins are dingos! This line is also common in village dogs in Southeast and East Asia. Unlike many other lineages, A2 did not spread across the whole world, probably because it did not have the opportunity to hitch its wagon to European colonialism - or because these dogs just prefer hanging out in mountains, tundras, islands, and other hard-to-reach places!

A39

SHAE OF WICKED ANTLER’S HAPLOTYPE

Part of the A2 haplogroup, this haplotype occurs most commonly in Akitas and Maltese.

DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY

ClearTEST RESULT

Shae Of Wicked Antler has two healthy alleles at SOD1 and is unlikely to develop DM due to mutations in this gene.

Degenerative Myelopathy
(SOD1A)CONDITIONSOD1GENE NAMEGGCLEARGACARRIERAAAT RISKRecessiveINHERITANCE TYPE

DESCRIPTION

A disease of mature dogs, this is a progressive degenerative disorder of the spinal cord that can cause muscle wasting and gait abnormalities. Affected dogs do not usually show signs until they are at least 8 years old, where the first signs of neural degeneration appear in the nerves that innervate the hind limbs. You may notice your dog scuffing the tops of his or her hind paws, or walking with a hesitant, exaggerated gait. In advanced cases, lower motor neurons are also affected leading to weakness or near-paralysis of all four legs and widespread muscle wasting. Given the advanced age at the time of onset, the treatment for DM is aimed towards making your dog comfortable in his or her old age and includes lifestyle changes and physical therapy. SOD1 codes superoxide dismutase, an enzyme important in neutralizing free radicals and reactive oxygen species, both of which are produced as a byproduct of cell metabolism. If not neutralized, these are injurious to the cell and will cause premature cell death. The first system to show effects of this is the nervous system given the highly specialized and delicate nature of these cells. Please note that these mutations are reported to have incomplete penetrance: that is, while a dog with two copies of this mutation has a much greater chance of developing DM than a dog with one copy of the mutation, or none at all, other genetic and environmental factors will also contribute to whether your dog develops DM.