How is a racial composition test performed, and what is it used for?

Through publications on the canine genome and the particularities of each breed's DNA since 2004, knowledge about the genetic characteristics of the species has become public knowledge. Since then, it has become possible to extract a large amount of data from DNA analysis: with the technical optimization of the laboratory process, we have progressed to the area known as "genomics".

A genomic analysis is one that determines a broad overview of information about possible variants in an animal's DNA. Unlike classic genetic analyses, which use PCR to determine the result for a specific gene, a single genomic analysis can provide hundreds or even thousands of pieces of information about the DNA. When this evaluation is done using microarray technology or DNA chip hybridization, it is possible to obtain information on tens of thousands of points in the canine genome, potentially reaching up to 220,000. In this way, the coverage of what is analyzed is high, and it allows, among other objectives, the determination of the specific set of variants for each breed. This set functions as a "fingerprint," which is different between breeds but identical between dogs of the same breed.

Laboratories that perform racial composition analyses (in the case of dogs, cattle, and other species) or ethnic composition analyses (in the case of humans) must have in their database all these "fingerprints" of the genomes of each breed or ethnic group. The larger the database, the greater the possibility of detecting the correct breed. When a dog's racial composition test is performed, its DNA is evaluated using DNA chip technology, and its data is compared with that available in the laboratory's database, allowing the issuance of a report that certifies whether the dog is of a specific pure breed, or whether it is a mixture of two or more breeds.

One of the uses of this type of analysis is to ensure that a puppy acquired as purebred is truly 100% of a single breed. However, an application that has been gaining much interest among dog lovers is the determination of the breed composition of mixed-breed dogs, or SRDs. Although it may initially seem like just a curiosity, the data from this analysis can provide very rich information for the owner and greatly improve the quality of the relationship with the dog. After all, knowing which breeds are most represented in your pet allows you to learn about the average behavioral tendencies of each one. When the breeds with the greatest influence on your pet's composition are understood, the owner can learn about preferred types of play, energy expenditure needs, and whether the dog will be trainable or more stubborn, among many other characteristics.

Despite the profound application of breed composition testing for improving the relationship between dog and owner, and for the quality of life of both, it is very important to consider that the lower the weight of breed composition shown in the analysis results, the less this breed will impact the animal's behavior. Therefore, it is important to focus on the information from those breeds that appeared in a higher percentage, and take advantage of the new knowledge about your four-legged friend.