Welcome to The Labrador Club
Basic Genetics
Basic Genetics
It is important for prospective breeders to have, at least, a basic knowledge of the complicated science of genetics, before initiating a breeding programme.
Every aspect of growth and development has one or more regulating genes: hair length, bone formation, distinctive behaviour etc, are all controlled by genes. A gene is a unit of inheritance and is the sole physical link from generation to generation.
A breeder’s work is complicated by the fact that rarely do single genes control one trait in a dog. When height, length of coat, type of tail, etc are considered, the genetics are, in fact, more complicated than indicated above. For example, there are not merely two sorts of Labradors; short and tall, but a whole range of intermediate sizes exist. Factors such as size are controlled by many genes, and the numbers, and combinations of them, control the potential size of the adult dog. However, one can regard these combinations of genes in a way like that for colour and plan a mating to include or avoid traits which are present in a line of dogs.
Recessive and dominant genes can be explained by using the Labradors colour. Black is dominant and yellow recessive. You can find out more by following this link;
While the colour of the two parents is obvious, knowing if either of them carry a recessive gene which causes an inherited disease, is not.
There are a range of DNA tests available for some diseases and only breeding from genetically clear parents you can guarantee that your puppies will not be affected by those inherited diseases. The breeder of your bitch can supply the test results from both her parents, and this will guide your selection of a suitable stud dog.
