H-locus (harlequin)

LABOKLIN Service ID: 8254

Harlequin is a typical coat colour of Great Danes, which show black patterns on white background. This characteristic is caused by a modifier-gene for the M-locus. The dominant H-allele changes the Merle pattern to harlequin. Therefore, the genotype N/M at the M-locus is needed in addition to H/h. The dominant H-allele is lethal when found homozygous (H/H). Affected puppies die before birth.

Method	TaqMan SNP assay
Breed list	Great Dane
Heredity	autosomal dominant
Duration	3 - 5 days after arrival of the sample in the lab