DNA diagnostics company Genoscoper Laboratories has developed MyDogDNA, the world’s first genome-wide panel-testing concept for canine genetics. MyDogDNA benefits both sustainable breeding and pet care.
Genoscoper Laboratories is an animal DNA-diagnostics company originally established in 1995 and based in Finland. Genoscoper has been in operation in its current form since 2011, when the company decided to focus on canine DNA-diagnostics and the development of the MyDogDNA gene test panel.
According to the company’s COO Katja Jauni, the testing service benefits from Genoscoper’s strong collaboration with the canine genetics research of Hannes Lohi’s research lab. After the actual academic research projects are completed, there remains a strong demand for commercialized genetic tests which can be performed with Genoscoper Laboratories’ comprehensive analysis platform.
The versatile MyDogDNA service gives simultaneous test results for various known inherited canine diseases and conformational traits. Additionally, the test panel determines genome-wide genetic diversity.
MyDogDNA is an easy-to-use testing service: the tests are available at an online store, and after the samples have been taken by a veterinarian they are sent to Genoscoper for analysis. The test results are available within approximately 3 weeks and reported via the MyDogDNA online database. The database has been developed in collaboration with MediSapiens, the leading Finnish BioIT company.
MyDogDNA benefits pets, pet owners, breeders, veterinarians, and kennel clubs.
“Veterinarians can use the genetic information provided by the service for the diagnosis or exclusion of genetic diseases caused by known mutations, or to detect drug sensitivity. Additionally, breeders are able to consider the likelihood of hereditary diseases and estimate the genetic diversity of the future litter”, Jauni specifies.
The canine research also produces valuable data that can be applied in the research of corresponding human diseases.
Genoscoper’s testing platform is also available globally through partnership with Mars Veterinary, a business unit of the world’s largest pet welfare products providing company, Mars Petcare.
The MyDogDNA gene panel is under constant development. “Canine genetic research is progressing rapidly, and our test panel needs to keep up with the newest research findings”, Jauni emphasizes.
The fourth version of the gene test panel will be released next, it enables an even more comprehensive simultaneous testing of known inherited canine disorders, conformational traits, and overall genetic diversity.
At the moment, Genoscoper is developing canine metabolomics tests to support the gene tests. The product development is performed in collaboration with the Hannes Lohi lab. “The combination of genetic and metabolomics tests will enable personalized, predictive and preventive pet healthcare in the future”, Jauni describes.
The Genoscoper MyDogDNA service is an excellent example of a collaborative effort between life science and healthtech businesses and academic research.
“The level of scientific know-how is high in Helsinki”, Jauni praises. Also, the size of the life science and healthtech community in the metropolitan area is advantageous: “People know each other, which makes networking efficient and collaboration projects easy to implement”, Jauni explains.
Jauni believes that the small and medium-sized businesses of Helsinki metropolitan area have an enormous potential to form a business ecosystem where every company has its own role.
“Co-operation between companies would be an advantage for all parties: many things that would be impossible or unproductive alone, can be achieved through collaboration”, Jauni underlines.
Photo: Miika Fadjukov
Interview by: Hanna Ala-Hongisto, Health Capital Helsinki / MedEngine Oy
