Cream dilution

DNA test The cream dilution gene has varying effects on different base colours. To obtain the exact ‘type name’ of...

€43.05

Sample Requirements

30 to 40 - hair roots - envelope or 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube

Send your sample by regular mail or express delivery to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

Turnaround Time

2 to 5 working days

About the test

The cream dilution gene has varying effects on different base colours.

To obtain the exact ‘type name’ of cream dilute of the horse it is recommended to run this test in conjunction with Extension and Agouti genes.

Why test?

Testing is useful where genetic confirmation is required or to define cream dilute horses aside from other genes with similar effects (such as champagne dilution and grey).

Running this test will confirm if a horse is cream dilute. As mentioned the cream dilution gene has varying effects on different base colours. To obtain the exact ‘type name’ of cream dilute of the horse (eg. Buckskin, Palomino, Cremello…) it is recommended to run this test in conjunction with red factor and agouti.

Results

The DNA test verifies the presence of the Cream dilution gene and presents results as one of the following:

N/ - Non-dilute. Basic colours are black, bay or chestnut, in the absence of other modifying genes.
N/Cr – Dilute. Heterozygous, one copy of the Cream (Cr) allele. Chestnut is diluted to palomino; bay is diluted to buckskin and black is diluted to smoky black. These colours can be further modified by the actions of other genes.
Cr/ - Double dilute, two copies of the Cream (Cr) allele. Chestnut is diluted to cremello; bay is diluted to perlino and black is diluted to smoky cream.

Additional information

The Cream dilution gene affects both red and black pigment and is responsible for diluting the coat to lighter shades. In many breeds, this is considered a highly desirable trait.

The Cream dilution gene is responsible for coat colours such as Palomino, Buckskin, Cremello, Perlino and Smoky Cream.

Horses carrying one copy of the Cream gene are known as single dilutes (heterozygous).

In the simplest case:

Bay + one Cream allele = Buckskin
Black + one Cream allele = Smoky Black
Chestnut (or Sorrel) + one Cream allele = Palomino

Single dilute horses have a 50% chance of passing the Cream gene to their offspring.

Horses carrying two copies of the Cream gene are known as double dilutes (homozygous).

In the simplest case:

Bay + two Cream alleles = Perlino
Black + two Cream alleles = Smoky Cream
Chestnut (or Sorrel) + two Cream alleles = Cremello

Double dilute horses will always pass one copy of the Cream gene to their foals.