Isohelix Swabs can be used for human or animal donors
Isohelix Buccal Swabs make DNA sampling easy, whether the donor is human or an animal! In this recent study by Dutra et al (2024), the donors were canine, and the study was to evaluate the potential of using dogs’ apparent age, judged from photographs, as a non-invasive tool for assessing their welfare.
Relative Telomore Length
Relative telomere length (RTL) is biomarker of biological aging, and can be measured using quantitative PCR. To collect DNA to measure RTL, DNA samples were collected by placing an Isohelix Buccal swab against the inside surface of the dog’s cheek, and saliva and tissue were collected by rolling the swab against the cheek. An Isohelix Dri-Capsule was included in each swab tube, preventing degradation and enabling the sample to be stored at room temperature. DNA was extracted using a Buccalyse DNA Release Kit.
Can apparent age be used as an indicator of welfare?
Traditional welfare assessment methods often rely on behavioral and physiological indicators, which can be resource-intensive and invasive. This research explored whether apparent age, a measure used in humans to predict health and longevity, can also serve as an indicator of welfare in dogs by investigating its association with RTL.
Contact us to find out more about how Isohelix products can help with your sample collection, preservation and isolation.
Read the full paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/3/26
Email Us
Call Us