BICHON FRISE DNA BANKS

“Saving the Past and Breeding for the Future”

The time has arrived for the Bichon Frise Club of America to catch up with many other parent clubs that have well-established DNA banks for their breeds.  Research projects can be delayed for up to 2 years while researchers collect DNA samples from dogs without DNA stored in a bank.  Expedited research projects increase the likelihood of developing DNA based disease tests.  Therefore, BFCA is encouraging Bichon breeders/owners to submit DNA to all 3 of the DNA banks explained on this page.  To facilitate this process, the BFCA health committee provided complimentary DNA swabs to Bichon breeders/owners at the 2008 national specialty, funded by the Bichon health research fund.  Future calls for DNA samples will be posted here.

Bichon DNA Cache at Home Program

Breeding purebred dogs means breeding within a limited gene pool and the Bichon Frise is no exception.  Throughout history, humans have bred dogs by looking only at the physical characteristics or phenotype but it is a game of chance.  When you breed over and over again the same gene pool, unknown to the breeder, a killer is lurking in the parents’ genes.  Cystinuria was the killer that shortened Mastiff lives and cardiomyopathy shortened American Boxer lives. Fortunately, by using DNA markers, breeders are eliminating these killers.

So what killer is lurking in the future for the Bichon Frise?  That is unknown but breeders of the Bichon Frise can be prepared to challenge any killer by collecting DNA now and in the future on all Bichons and all puppies produced.  Researchers emphasize that samples and data are needed for all dogs in a breed being studied, whether the dog is affected or is healthy.  Otherwise, researchers cannot compare what is normal and what is not.  When the call comes for DNA samples that are needed for genetic research of a disease threatening the Bichon Frise breed, you as a breeder, can be prepared to provide resources and information from dogs living and dead.  Researchers are currently using swabs that are 10 years old, seeing no age-related decline in the quality of the DNA provided the swabs were not exposed to any ambient humidity.

“Clearing the Lines”, Matthew Schenker, AKC Gazette, February 2006, pp.35-39

The BFCA Health Committee is sponsoring “Bichon DNA Cache at Home” by providing at the 2008 National Specialty free kits for you to DNA your litters as well as your individual dogs.  You will collect five (5) swabs of DNA from each puppy born or each dog you own using sterile swabs and identifying each with a special, archival label.  In addition to storing all the samples safely in your home, you will record the annual health level of each dog swabbed.  When Bichon Frise DNA samples are needed for genetic research, you as a breeder will be prepared to provide needed samples from dogs living and dead, an important aid to successful research. All data collected by genetic researchers is protected.  Anything you share about your dog’s health status is kept confidential.  The fact that you chose to participate in research is not revealed to the AKC, the CHF, or to other members of your breed club.  Anything found in the course of looking at your dog’s DNA is not disclosed to anyone.

If you obtained DNA swabs at the 2008 national specialty, please follow these instructions for collection of DNA for your DNA Cache at Home.  If you agree to participate in the Bichon DNA Cache at Home Program but did not obtain DNA swabs at the 2008 national specialty, please follow the same instructions, but you will have to pay a small fee to order your DNA collection kits from our boutique.  The litter kits contain 5 swabs per puppy for a litter of 5 (the average Bichon litter size), archival labels for each swab, individual labeled small envelopes in which to store the 5 swabs for each puppy, and a large envelope for storage of all the swabs for that particular litter.  The individual Bichon kits contain 5 swabs, a labeled envelope in which to store the swabs, and archival labels for each swab.

In addition to saving DNA on swabs, or instead of, you have the option of saving blood samples from your Bichons at home or sending the samples to the CHIC DNA Repository or a researcher, but you will need the assistance of a veterinarian.  Many researchers prefer blood which contains more DNA, but collecting several swabs with DNA on your dog will allow you to send a portion of them to a pertinent research project, and still keep some at home in your DNA cache.

Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) DNA Repository

The CHIC DNA bank is co-sponsored by the OFA and the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF).   It stores either blood or swab samples of DNA with corresponding pedigrees, health data, and phenotypic information.  The goal of this program is to facilitate future canine research by expeditiously providing DNA samples to scientists. Once CHIC receives your Bichon’s DNA deposit into their bank, the donation will be reflected on the OFA page for that Bichon.

The BFCA health committee provided a DNA collection clinic at the 2008 BFCA national specialty, which included swabs for the CHIC DNA Repository.  Normally CHIC charges a fee for processing and storage of DNA, $5 for swabs and $20 for blood, which they waived for the BFCA national specialty DNA collection clinic.  If you obtained DNA swabs at the 2008 BFCA national specialty and plan to send them to CHIC, complete this application and the health survey, and follow the CHIC DNA Repository Instructions.

If you did not obtain DNA swabs at the 2008 BFCA national specialty and wish to participate in the CHIC DNA Repository, go to this site http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/dnabank.html to download the application form and health survey.   You will be required to submit the 2 forms with the fee to CHIC to receive the DNA swab or blood collection kits.

AKC DNA Profile Program for Parentage

AKC provides this service for you to register the DNA of your Bichons to verify parentage for genetic identity purposes, i.e. to verify future generations produced by the dogs.  BFCA recommends that all Bichons used for breeding, male and female, participate in this program.  AKC requires this program for stud dogs whose semen is collected for fresh-extended or frozen use, for imported breeding stock, and for frequently used sires (more than 3 litters in a calendar year or producing 7 or more litters in a lifetime).  AKC’s goal is to ensure that the AKC Registry is the most accurate in the world.

To participate, the owner orders a DNA test kit from AKC that contains one swab with instructions on how to obtain the DNA sample.  Once AKC receives the sample, they will profile that dog with a DNA Profile Number that will appear on that dog’s registration record, certificates, and pedigrees.  BFCA often provides the AKC DNA test kits for a reduced rate at the Bichon national specialty.  For more information and instructions on how to order a test kit, go to this web site:  http://www.akc.org/dna/certify.cfm.