In the laboratories at the Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Dr. Vicki Meyers-Wallen focuses upon inherited disorders that affect canine reproduction. Our goal is to identify genes that have a negative impact upon reproduction, with the final goal of producing practical tests to identify those carrying harmful mutations. The long term goals are to reduce, and eventually remove, such deleterious genes from purebred dog populations, thus improving the reproductive soundness of purebred dogs.

We are asking for breeders and owners to participate in our study by allowing us to collect blood samples from their dogs and related dogs. Those interested can e-mail Dr. Meyers-Wallen at: vnm1@cornell.edu http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/research/meyers_wallen/meyers_wallen.html

We are studying the DNA to find the gene mutations that cause cryptorchidism (undescended testicles). Since this is the most prevalent inherited disorder of the canine reproductive system, it would be very helpful to have a test to detect carriers of these genes. Then breeders could plan matings in which no cryptorchid offspring would be produced, while allowing the offspring to receive other desirable genes that such carriers may have.

We exposed this story in August of 2005 because such requests are increasingly frequent and unfortunately, equally hard to verify. While requests for blood, tissue, or DNA samples may be perfectly legitimate, my litmus test for truth has always been whether they are willing to provide answers to reasonable, polite questions. Most welcome an opportunity to promote a concept or project. Where there is evasion or secrecy, especially when asking for donations of any kind, suspicions are aroused.

Medical studies come with a price tag and in today’s hotly competitive market, obtaining study subjects is expensive. Life itself is a trade-off, people frequently participate in drug studies in hopes of benefit for themselves or others. Despite legal statutes, there is little disclosure in human medicine and next to none in veterinary medicine.

We should be clearly informed of the purpose to which donated blood or DNA samples will be directed. Whether human or animal, DNA samples become the patentable property of the company that collects them. We are entitled to assurance that tissue samples or DNA will only be used for the stated purpose and will not be sold or otherwise “used” without our knowledge or consent. Information-peddling is big business and no educated person today believes universities or labs are philanthropic institutions.

Update: legal disputes over DNA ownership and privacy made network news in 2009. In 2010, a new predictive test for inherited breast cancer was withheld from the women who donated the cells from which the test was developed. The pharmaceutical company legally owned the women's cells and therefore, the patented test but agreed to provide the test to the donors at no cost - just before the documentary was aired.

We willingly give blood to the Red Cross, knowing it will be sold to the hospital (to cover costs) which will mark it up and sell it to the patient. That’s okay. We know how it works and that our gift to humanity could save a life. Giving unknown researchers your dog's blood for an undisclosed purpose is decidedly different!

There’s none among us who wouldn’t rejoice at the thought of finding and eliminating a gene for retained testicles, which by the way, is not the “most prevalent” inherited disorder of the canine repro system. That misstatement alone is cause to reject the stated purpose and the validity of this particular study.

As has been speculated by breeders who keep track of such things, the gene for cryptorchidism can be carried by the FEMALE dog, analogous to von Willibrand’s disease (bleeder) which is carried by the female. It is noteworthy that such a possibility was not mentioned and it appears that only male dogs were acceptable for DNA research.

Exploration of the website links validated Dr. Vicki Meyers-Wallen’s impressive credentials but also raised questions. The first statement regarding the research is “We are studying animal models of inherited human disorders as a means to understand sex determination and differentiation at the molecular level.” Second paragraph, again relating to humans, “Affected individuals do not have a Y chromosome: the karyotypes of affected individuals are the same as those of normal females.” That could explain why blood samples from females are not necessary, which means breeders would not learn whether or not female dogs carry the gene.

Third paragraph finally mentions dogs but the cited abnormality has nothing to do with retained testicles. “A second disorder that we are investigating, which occurs in humans and dogs, is Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) in which the oviducts and uterus develop in otherwise normal males.”

Finally, the fourth and concluding paragraph, quoted in its entirety, gets to the part of the study that relates to dogs “A third disorder that we are investigating in collaboration with other investigators is cryptorchidism, which is failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum. Our objective is to find the genes responsible for this disorder in the dog. We are currently collecting DNA samples from cryptorchid males and their parents and grandparents in canine families.”

To a wordsmith, "in collaboration with" sounds like "we will sell or share samples with someone else." I could find nothing else that relates to dogs nor does it state if or how results of the study would be made public or be of benefit to dog breeders. No explanation as to why such a significant amount of blood is required as opposed to DNA studies from a cheek swab, a single hair, or even a 3,000 year old speck of dust from a mummy’s tomb.

Before deciding to help promote the research, we decided to ask a few questions. This was prompted by a recent experience wherein a crew representing themselves as veterinarians from a "vet university" appeared at the Oklahoma Toy Specialties to collect blood samples. They gave their pitch to a full meeting room of interested owners. The first hitch came when concerned owners asked about a draw from jugular vein of their tiny toy dogs and the collection team refused to clarify whether they were vets or students, or even lab techs. Amid the clamor over that, I asked if they could assure us that the DNA and blood samples would not be sold or otherwise shared. They said they didn't know, hastily left the meeting, and I'm told that no owners donated their dog's throats or DNA to the "vets" that day and they were not seen the following day. Based on that experience, we decided to contact Dr. Meyers-Wallen.

I prefaced by request for more information by explaining that The Dog Press is the largest subscriber-based website in the U.S. and would be glad to help promote their project. I asked whether there had been any study on the hereditary factor of retained testicles and whether there would be any charges associated with submitting a sample. Lastly, I asked what would be done with the database of information and the samples obtained, thanked Dr. Meyers-Wallen for her anticipated response, and again stated that we hoped to support the project by informing our subscribers.

From: Vicki Meyers-Wallen [mailto:vnm1@cornell.edu] Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005
To: Editor Subject: Re: QUESTION re cryptorchidism study DNA sample

Dear Ms. Andrews,

Thank you for your willingness to help. I am hesitant to post this further since I am presently experiencing a tremendous response- so much so that I am having trouble keeping up with the correspondence right now. After we evaluate how many samples we actually receive from this response, I can tell whether we actually need any more.

Thank you for your patience,

Vicki N. Meyers-Wallen, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACT Associate Professor
Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, J.A. Baker Institute for Animal Health,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
Telephone: 607 256-5683 FAX: 607 256-5608 e-mail vnm1@cornell.edu
http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/research/meyers_wallen/meyers_wallen.html

To which I responded:
“… Your failure to address any of my questions leads me to believe that this DNA sample collection may not be as altruistic as has been portrayed. Could that be true?

“If you have a moment to reply to all those emails from people who are responding, then surely you have time to answer basic questions? My time is limited as well but if it is a worthy project and will actually provide some tangible benefit for the dogs instead of some new income producer, it deserves promotion.”

And she replied, in total:

“I am sorry that you feel that way.”

No signature and no pretense at civility or cooperation. We leave you to interpret this information as you will. We're told "It never hurts to ask" but perhaps it does.

Editor's update: as of May 2010 we have seen no news on any genetic discoveries relating to canine reproduction, no DNA test for a genetic component for cyrptorchidism but requests for blood and DNA samples continue.

Capt. Haggerty responds to this article, explains more on genetics & missing testicles http://www.thedogplace.org/Genetics/Cryptorchid-Monorchid-050910061-Haggerty.asp

Copyright © NetPlaces, Inc. / TheDogPlace - All Rights Reserved, Under penalty of law, no portions thereof may reproduced or reprinted without obtaining Reprint Permission from the publisher- Privacy Policy - Disclaimer