title: Development and validation of a diagnostic test for Ridge allele copy number in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The breed-defining dorsal ridge in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs is the result of a 133,000 base pair duplication on chromosome 18. Because this trait is dominant, heterozygous dogs cannot be discriminated from those with two copies of the Ridge allele.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A quantitative PCR test was developed and dogs of known genotype were used as test subjects. In all cases, the correct genotype was determined experimentally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work provides a rapid and accurate methodology for determining dog genotype with respect to the Ridge allele.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, State University of New York at New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive, New Palz, NY 12561 USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer Turner
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Waldo
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, State University of New York at New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive, New Palz, NY 12561 USA.
authors.forename: Kasandra Santana
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Diaz
keywords: Copy number variation; Dermoid sinus; Genotyping; Rhodesian Ridgeback; qPCR