The gene for K has been identified

from Martine Huslig at BriardTalk list, 19.10.07

For those of you who do not know what K is - K is the gene that is responsible for the dominant Black in Briards! Now people can determine if a black (or black born gray) with 2 black parents carries a gene that allows for them to produce tawny puppies. K is a dominant gene. Dog that are KK or Kk are black. Only dog that are kk (recessive) are seen as tawny. What type of tawny is decided by other genes. A KK dog can only produce black puppies. A Kk dog can produce tawny puppies when bred to a tawny or another black that "carries" k. Testing for briards is available in HealthGene.

Aβ-Defensin Mutation Causes Black Coat Color in Domestic Dogs

authores: S.I.Candille, C.B.Kaelin, B.M.Cattanach, Bin Yu, D.A.Thompson, M.A.Nix, J.A.Kerns, S.M.Schmutz, G.L.Millhauser, G.S.Barsh
abstract in Science 30 November 2007: Vol. 318. no. 5855, pp. 1418 - 1423 (English)


Links about genetic


Canine Coat and Nose Color Test for Briards (HealthCene)

Coat color Dog

Dilute research

Genetics of coat color in dogs may help explain human stress and weight, ScienceDaily, 14.11.07

The K Locus: KB, kbr, ky/ky - Sheila Schmutz (30.08.08)

Making sense of coat color: a genetic approach - HealthGene

Canine Genetics Primer & Free Canine Genetics Software Free program for predicting phenotypes of dogs based on known genotypes, and calculating mating predictions. From the makers of Breeders Assistant Pedigree Software.

The canine genome, authores: E.A.Ostrander, R.K.Wayne; in: Genome Res. 2005. 15: 1706-1716

Exclusion of Melanocortin-1 Receptor (Mc1r) and Agouti as Candidates for Dominant Black in Dogs, authores: J.A.Kerns, M.Olivier, G.Lust, G.S.Barsh; in: Journal of Heredity 2003:94(1), pp.75-79

Linkage and Segregation Analysis of Black and Brindle Coat Color in Domestic Dogs, authores: J.A.Kerns, EJ.Cargill, L.A.Clark, S.I.Candille, T.G.Berryere, M.Olivier, G.Lust, R.J.Todhunter, S.M.Schmutz, K.E.Murphy, G.S.Barsh; in: Genetics, Vol. 176, 1679-1689, July 2007

Genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer, authores: B.Ujvari, M.Klaassen, N.Raven, T.Russell, M.Vittecoq, R.Hamede, F.Thomas, T.Madsen; Australia-France, 2017

Merle phenotypes in dogs - SILV SINE insertions from Mc to Mh, authores: S.Pekova, M.Langevin, H.Synkova, T.Jancuskova, 2018, CZ