Paternity Analysis Fact Sheet – Background

When assessing parentage the pup’s DNA profile (genotype) is compared with that of the Dam and Sires DNA profiles.  All alleles (fragments of DNA) present in the pup should also be present in the Dam or Sire profile.

Nineteen canine specific microsatellite markers (alleles,) are tested to produce an individual DNA profile unique to that individual.  Each marker generates two alleles (bands) of a particular size (base pairs).  When the alleles are the same size we call this individual homozygous ie. it has inherited two identical sized peaks from each parent.  Where the two peaks appear as different sizes we call this heterozygous that is it has inherited one specific sized allele from each parent.

Example of paternity analysis

Parentage is verified by comparing the profile of the dam, pup(s) and sire at all 19 markers.   In some cases letters are used as a representation of the real size data.  All Greyhound Association results are shown as real data (base pair numbers) as shown below.

Therefore, by comparing the DNA profile of the PUP with the DAM we can conclude that the PUP has inherited allele 100 for marker AHT121 and 240 for marker FH2848 from the DAM.

Allele 106 for AHT121 and 242 for FH2848 must be passed on paternally ie. from the SIRE.