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Horse DNA testing is a valuable tool for breeders, owners, and equine enthusiasts to verify the identity and genetic makeup of their horses.
An ISAG (International Society for Animal Genetics) profile is a DNA test that provides information on the horse’s genetic markers and can be used for a variety of purposes, including parentage verification, genetic identity and disease diagnosis.
A horse’s DNA profile is made up of a series of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), also known as microsatellite DNA, which are specific sequences of DNA widely distributed throughout the genome, which vary among each other in their length and number of repeats. These markers are unique to each horse, allowing the identification of specific individuals, equivalent to the fingerprint in humans. Members of the same family will have microsatellites of exactly the same or similar length. However, two individuals will never have the exactly same DNA profiles, unless they are identical twins.
By using DNA testing, horse owners and breeders can verify parentage and ensure that their horses are purebred. This is particularly important in breeding programs, where accuracy in parentage is essential for maintaining the integrity of a breed. This information can help breeders make informed decisions about which horses to breed and which to avoid, ultimately improving the overall health and well-being of the breed.
DNA for the profile is isolated from a buccal swab or blood sample. After the DNA extraction, specific markers are analyzed in order to create the DNA profile. AnimaLabs® performs DNA profiling based on analysis of 12 microsatellite markers set up by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) and 5 additional markers that are used to create a unique genetic fingerprint of the horse. The accuracy of such performed profile is higher than 99.99%.
*This test does not determine breed type. Rather, it identifies specific gene markers that are inherited from both parents.