Description

The cream dilution gene is one of several genes that will dilute the coat of a horse. Cream is a simi-dominant gene and has a dosage effect where a heterozygous (nCr), single dilute cream horse will show a lesser effect when compared to a homozygous (CrCr), double dilute cream horse. In the simplest case, a bay horse with a single copy of cream is known as a buckskin, a single dilute black horse is know as a smoky black and a palomino is a chestnut or sorrel with one copy of the cream gene. Double dilutes such as cremellos, perlinos and smoky creams are chestnuts, bays and black horses respectively that carry two copies of the Cream Dilution gene.

Cream dilution is caused by a gene mutation (in this case a SNP) in exon 2 of the MATP gene and subsequently, a genetic test has been developed that tests for the presence of this mutation. There are other genes that may have an effect similar to Cream dilution but will not be detected by this test.

Cream Dilution Testing

Animal Genetics offers DNA testing for the MATP gene mutation responsible for cream dilution.

Cost

$25.00 US per test.

Collect sample by pulling (not cutting) 20-30 mane or tail hairs with roots attached. It is important that you pull the hairs and confirm that the actual root of the hair is being collected. The root contains the genetic material of your horse that is needed for DNA testing. Therefore, cut hair do not provide an adequate sample of your horse. Place the collected hairs of each horse in a separate zip-lock bag labeling the bags accordingly with the horses name or identification number. Download and complete a submission form for each sample and send along with payment to Animal Genetics for testing.

Results

Results are given using the following symbolic notation: