Have you ever questioned the accuracy of pet DNA tests? The WBZ team recently decided to investigate the reliability of these tests, and surprisingly, they came across some unexpected results. As per reports, the pet DNA company identified a woman as part Labrador and part Alaskan Malamute based on her DNA sample. The team decided to test the accuracy of their services by sending samples to three different companies. These companies claim that examining a dog’s cheek or saliva can provide insights into its breed, ancestry, health risks and behaviour. However, in an unexpected twist, instead of sending a dog’s sample, the news portal submitted a sample of their reporter. Two companies, Orivet and Wisdom Panel, were unable to provide accurate results due to insufficient DNA.
However, a Toronto, Canada-based DNA My Dog not only successfully studied the human gene but also shared surprising results. According to them, the reporter’s sample indicated that she is 40% Alaskan Malamute, 35% Shar-Pei and 25% Labrador.
The Australia and US-based Orivet disclosed that the sample submitted for analysis “failed to provide the data necessary to perform the breed ID analysis.” Similarly, the Wisdom Panel stated that the sample “didn’t provide…enough DNA to produce a reliable result.”
Last year, the WBZ team conducted a similar investigation where they played with commercial DNA testing companies. They sent a human cheek sample from a pet owner to DNA My Dog from New Hampshire. Surprisingly, as per the results, she was part of the bulldog clan.
Elinor Karlsson, a geneticist at the Broad Institute and UMass Chan Medical School said, “I personally do have concerns about the fact that, from a consumer standpoint, you don’t always know what you’re getting when you work with those companies. There’s not a lot of rules in this space. We might be able to figure out which dogs are at risk of getting cancer, and screen them more often and be able to diagnose it earlier. We might be able to develop new treatments for that cancer.”
According to Zion Market Research, the global dog DNA test market, valued at $235 million in 2022, is expected to reach $723 million by 2030. Leading companies in this industry include DNA My Dog, Orivet and Wisdom Panel. However, recent inaccuracies in results have raised concerns about the reliability of these DNA tests.
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