Dr. Aguirre and his colleagues are working very hard to resolve this problem. Hopefully, new marker genes will be found, or they will find a way to identify the false-positive allele. They are looking for the gene mutation. When the mutation is located a new test will be developed and the use of markers will be discontinued. Through the use of these normal dogs we no longer will have to worry about creating a blind animal.
Marker genes are plentiful and easier to find on the chromosomal super-highway.
Although nothing in any molecular study is easy, finding marker genes associated with a disease provides the initial steps in finding the actual mutation. This test will identify a fingerprint of markers located on chromosome 9 very close to the prcd locus. Dogs can be tested at any age and the results will never change. The test will yield one of 3 possible marker patterns. All dogs in this group are homozygous normal.