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Inbreeding Analysis

The Association has recently sent out a letter to its known breeders requesting their help in the above project. If you have not received this information or are not a member and would like to participate, a copy of the letter is available here. We welcome anyone breeding Russians to help with the project as the wider gene pool we have the greater our diversity which is a benefit to us all.

At the present time, all we are asking for is your commitment to the number of breeding cats you are willing to swab, then we can obtain a quote – the more cats, the cheaper it will be. There will be no cost to you the breeder. We will provide the “swabs” and pay for the postage to Professor Lyons – which YOU send direct to her. Dr. Lyons does need to have the pedigree of each cat swabbed – this is so that she can eliminate same or similar pedigrees and give us a more accurate result.

It was a commitment in the Russian Breeding Policy to try to establish the degree of inbreeding within the Russians in the UK. This is being done by simple saliva swabs by the owner.

All information is sent direct to Professor Leslie Lyons in the USA and no information regarding which cats and which pedigrees are used by her for the analysis, are given to us. We will just be given an overall “snapshot” picture of whether we need to worry or not and perhaps advice on how to increase our gene pool. There is no intention that this analysis shall include a test for any hereditary diseases. Professor Lyons has very kindly offered to speak to anyone who may have concerns. Her e-mail address is on her website: http://felinegenetics.missouri.edu/dna-sampling

We encourage you all to help us with the project to protect our breed long term. Anyone on the Committee will be happy to answer any queries.

Marlene Buckeridge
Chairman
Starirusiansmb@aol.com

31/05/2014