Posted 2014-02-17 9:59 PM Subject: Horse DNA question?
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443 Location: Montana
There is DNA in a horse hoof I'm sure, right? Well, why don't they use horse hoof trimmings to gather DNA samples instead of mane or tail hair? I don't know very much about DNA and things like that or if it would even work, but since we all trim our horse's feet, wouldn't that be simple? And if what I'm saying is non-sense, don't be too hard on me please.
Posted 2014-02-18 3:09 AM Subject: RE: Horse DNA question?
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: PA
i think part of it might be that its easier to break the hair down to get to the DNA than a chunk of foot.
Not so sure there is DNA in the trimmings?? maybe but i could be wrong
Posted 2014-02-18 7:53 AM Subject: RE: Horse DNA question?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182 Location: Do I hear Banjos?
The hoof trimmings will not work. Hair and hoof are both essentially keratin. Those cells do not contain a nucleus any longer and therefore very little or no DNA to extract and test. What is actually needed is not the hair shaft...but rather the root of the hair which does contain nucleated cells. The DNA material needed for a test is found in that root. Hence the reason they want you to pluck the hairs out rather than cut them.
Horse DNA question?
