Using a breed matching database and genetic markers for color, curiosity, speed and gait to breed offspring with predetermined traits

• US 10,550,436 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etalon Diagnostics
• Original Assignee: Adam Freund, Christa Lafayette, Henry Wilfred Lopez
• Inventors: Lafayette, Christa, Lopez, Henry Wilfred, Freund, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanni, G Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/818,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20170037482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6888 for detection or identification of organisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/124 Animal traits, i.e. production traits, including athletic performance or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/00 ICT specially adapted for functional genomics or proteomics, e.g. genotype-phenotype associations

Abstract

The methods of the present invention are based upon the gathering of information from various sources about animals. The information is based upon laboratory testing, genetic analysis and observations by owners and/or trainers about various traits that can be readily observed. Based upon this collection of information, one method generates Performance Index which scores or ranks an animal in terms of how well an animal might function for the intended purpose. Other methods include the ability to selection an optimum breeding pair from one or more stallions and/or one or more mares that would likely produce an offspring with the desired traits.

Claims

1. A method for producing a non-human offspring animal with a plurality of predetermined traits comprising the steps of:

(A) generating data about a first non-human animal prepared by;

(i) performing genetic tests to determine the genotype of the first animal for each of the following genetic markers;

(a) a coat color gene selected from the group consisting of agouti, black/red, brindle, champagne, cream, dominant white, frame overo, grey, pearl, sabino, silver, splashed white, tobiano, and white spotting,

(b) a curiosity gene that is a dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene,

(c) a speed gene that is myostatin (MSTN) gene, and

(d) a gait gene that is a doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 (DMRT3) gene; and

(ii) gathering information about the predetermined traits of the first animal by;

(a) obtaining information from someone knowledgeable about the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits,

(b) performing one or more clinical assays of biological tissue obtained from the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits, and

(c) performing one or more diagnostic tests on the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits, and, optionally,

(d) obtaining scores assigned to the first animal during a competition pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits;

(B) using the data and information of steps (A)(i) and (A)(ii) to establish an overall assessment of the first animal;

(C) analyzing a breed matching database to identify a second non-human animal of the opposite sex from the first animal having an overall assessment produced using the same data and information as was determined for the first animal, whereby a comparison of the overall assessment of the first animal with the overall assessment of the second animal indicates that breeding the second animal with the first animal would produce the non-human offspring animal with the predetermined traits; and

(D) breeding the first animal with the second animal to produce the non-human offspring animal having the plurality of predetermined traits.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the overall assessment of the first or second animal relates to an intended use of the offspring animal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the offspring animal, the first animal, and the second animal are selected from the group consisting of horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, camels, cats, pigs, goats, companion animals, service animals and laboratory animals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises performing genetic tests to determine the genotype of the first animal and/or the second animal for each of the following genetic markers:

ECA11, SLC5A3, GBEI, PPIB, SCN4A, FKBP6, LAMC2, MYO5A, RYR1, CLCN4, GYS1, DNAPK, WNVR, and ECA20.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining a purchase or sales price for the first animal, the second animal, and/or the offspring animal.

6. A method of producing an offspring non-human animal having a plurality of predetermined traits comprising breeding a first animal having the plurality of predetermined traits with a second animal of the opposite sex having the plurality of predetermined traits, wherein the first animal and the second animal have been determined to have the plurality of predetermined traits according to steps A-C of the method of claim 1.

7. A method for breeding a first non-human animal and a second non-human animal of the opposite sex of a predetermined species to produce a non-human offspring animal comprising the steps of:

(A) searching a breed matching database to identify the first animal of said species having a plurality of predetermined traits, wherein the plurality of predetermined traits are determined by;

(i) performing genetic testing to determine the genotype of the first animal for each of the following genetic markers;

(a) a coat color gene selected from the group consisting of agouti, black/red, brindle, champagne, cream, dominant white, frame overo, grey, pearl, sabino, silver, splashed white, tobiano, and white spotting,

(b) a curiosity gene that is a dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene,

(c) a speed gene that is myostatin (MSTN) gene, and

(d) a gait gene that is a doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 (DMRT3) gene; and

(ii) gathering information about the plurality of predetermined traits of the first animal by;

(a) obtaining information from someone knowledgeable about the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits,

(b) performing one or more clinical assays of biological tissue obtained from the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits, and

(c) performing one or more diagnostic tests on the first animal pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits, and, optionally,

(d) obtaining scores assigned to the first animal during a competition pertaining to the plurality of predetermined traits;

(B) searching the breed matching database to identify the second animal of said species having the plurality of predetermined traits, wherein the plurality of predetermined traits are determined according to the method of steps (A)(i) and (A)(ii);

(C) based upon the searching of steps (A) and (B), using the breed matching database to perform an analysis of potential offspring resulting from the breeding of the first animal with the second animal;

(D) based upon the searches of steps (A) and (B) and the analysis of step (C), selecting the first animal that could potentially produce an offspring animal having the plurality of predetermined traits;

(E) based upon the searches of steps (A) and (B) and the analysis of step (C), selecting the second animal that could potentially produce an offspring animal having the plurality of predetermined traits; and

(F) breeding the first animal with the second animal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein only the first animal is assessed.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein only the second animal is assessed.