7-29-05
Dr. Anderson,
I would appreciate if you would consider posting this call for
participation to your camelid health network. I am especially interested in vets
becoming aware of my requests. I can forward my CV to anyone who is interested
and would be happy to discuss this further. I posted this initially on
alpacasite, and have begun to receive samples weekly since the posting.
I am actually faculty at Ohio State University as well, having an courtesy
appointment in Anthropology there since 1997. Looking forward to hearing
from you. I would be willing to give a talk related to this as well if that
would help procure more samples and cooperation.
Cheers,
Andy Merriwether
Call for Participation:
I have started a DNA bank for future use mapping potentially genetic
diseases and phenotypic traits in alpacas and other camelids. Now that
the alpaca genome project is almost finished, we will have at least a rough
road map of the alpaca genome to start searching for genes involved in
camelid health, disease, and various phenotypes. To this end I thought it would
be prudent to start banking blood samples from any animals that have any
unusual traits, or are born with defects (even born dead). I currently
have grants in review to map the genes for camelid coat and skin color, and
to map the Suri allele, with the goal of developing genetic tests to offer
the industry. If I can accumulate enough samples (blood or tissue, and
fiber), I will submit grants to map the gene(s) for choanal atresia and wry face,
and polydactyly. To do this, I need blood or tissue samples from the
animals born with CA or wry face or polydactyly, as well as from the dam and
sire (if possible), and ideally also from other unaffected siblings. This
would all be strictly confidential. I have already received dozens of samples,
but will need 50-100 cases and their parents for each trait to map any of
these. Llamas are fine also. The animals do not have to be registered. It would
help me to have any vet information describing the condition, and if any
of the animals (affected or not) have ARI or CLCC numbers it would help me
to have them as well. Again, this is strictly confidential. I am not
restricting it to these problems. I have collected samples from
polydactyl animals and animals with multiple limbs, as well as animals with nursing
problems. If anyone has run into this, or does run into it in the
future, I would appreciate receiving samples. In general, I am interested in any
potentially disease-related phenotypes or unusual non-disease-related
phenotypes (traits). I will be happy to talk to anyone about this on the
phone or by email. Phone at home is 607-785-8226. Lab is 607-777-6707.
Email is andym@binghamton.edu
For now, I am establishing this registry with my own funds (ie doing the
extractions from blood and tissue samples and storing them at -80C). If
enough samples materialize, I will be able to apply for funding to help
pay for this. For now, it is based on your generosity to spend the money to
draw the bloods and mail them to me. Blood should be in a lavender top tube
(EDTA Vacuutainer) , ideally 1-5 mls. It should be overnight mailed to me
within 72 hours of drawing it. It should be refrigerated (not frozen) until it
is mailed, and can be sent with a blue-ice pack or room temperature if it
is not too hot. You need to email me to warn me it is coming, and all
related paperwork should accompany the samples, which should be labeled clearly
so I know what is what. Also include your name and contact information in the
package.
Express mail to:
D. Andrew Merriwether Lab
Department of Biology
Binghamton University
210 Science III Bldg.
Parkway East
PO Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Lab Phone: 607-777-6707
Background on me:
I am currently an associate professor of anthropology and biology at
Binghamton University (since 2002). I have a BA in Medical Anthropology, a
BS in Biology, an MS in Genetics, a Ph.D. in Human Genetics, and three
years postdoctoral training at the Keck Center for Advanced Training in
Computational Biology. I was an assistant professor in two departments
and two centers at the University of Michigan from 1996-2002 (Anthropolgy,
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Center for Statistical Genetics,
and the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology of Infectious
Diseases (MACEPID)).
With my wife, Ann Merriwether (Faculty in Psychology Dept. and in the
School of Human Development at Binghamton University), I co-own Nyala Farm
Alpacas, where we currently have 23 alpacas (22 Huacayas and a demonstration
model Suri, with two more due this year). We have owned alpacas for about
three years now. I have served on the Alpaca Research Foundation Board of
directors, the ARI genetics committee under Shauna Brummet, and the
Breed Standards Committee for the Empire Alpaca Association. Ann and I have
written numerous articles on alpaca genetics for various alpaca and
camelid trade journals.
Conflict of Interest: I hope to develop commercial tests to test for the
presence of various traits and diseases that I think will benefit the
industry and be desirable to alpaca owners and breeders. I also hope
some of them will benefit me financially someday as well, but if not, I love
solving a good mystery.
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