Myostatin mutation ("bully" gene)

LABOKLIN Service ID: 8220

Whippets are medium-seized, short-haired greyhounds. A mutation in the Myostatin gene has been found which correlates to higher performance in dog-racing. Dogs that possess one of these “Bully” alleles predominantly appeared in the top-racing-class, while dogs with two “Bully” alleles are extremely muscular, but slower when running. Additionally, those dogs exhibit extraordinary physiques including broader heads, accentuated overbite, short legs and thickish waist. Those features and not their temperament led to the name “Bully” Whippets. The mutation could not be found in other muscular breeds like Boxers or Mastiffs nor in other greyhounds or Afghans.

Method	sequencing
Breed list	Whippet
Heredity	autosomal recessive
Duration	1 - 2 weeks after arrival of the sample in the lab