Canine parentage testing based on microsatellite polymorphisms

To establish an accurate method for parentage testing in dogs, microsatelli te DNA repeat length polymorphisms were examined. We selected twenty micros atellite markers reported previously and examined their application for par entage testing in Beagles and Labrador Retrievers. Heterozygosity (He), Pol ymorphism Information Content (PIC), the probabilities of Paternity Exclusi on (PE) and the combined PE were calculated from allelic frequencies of the markers. All markers amplified by polymerase chain reactions were polymorp hic and many markers showed high He and PIC in the both breeds. The final c ombined PEs in Beagles and Labrador Retrievers were 0.999994 and 0.999920, respectively. The results suggest that the twenty markers can be applied fo r routine parentage testing in dogs.