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described as being "cryptic for merle". A cryptic merle bred to a merle may produce merles, cryptic merles or non-merles, depending on whether the parents were heterozygous or homozygous for the merle alleles. Another mutation for cryptic merle has been identified by Dr. Helena Synková, and has been given the working name of "atypical merle". It is recommended that if a breeder is unsure if their dog is merle or not, that they be tested for the merle allele lengths.
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Merle can affect all coat colors. The merle forms of brown are usually called "red" (though this is not correct; red and brown are genetically different), and black is called "blue" as lighter patches of black are formed throughout the coat and look slightly blue in color. Dogs who are recessive red
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is one with such small patches of merling, or none at all, that it appears to be a non-merle. This is commonly seen in dogs who are recessive red, clear recessive reds in particular, though patches can still be seen in certain red dogs. In
America, a dog with the phantom merle coloring is sometimes
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found that of 22 double merles, eight were completely deaf and two were deaf in one ear. Of 48 single merles, one was deaf in one ear and none were completely deaf. In another study of 70 dogs, 15 of them
Catahoula Curs, 4 of the Catahoulas were deaf, while 86% of the double merles of other breeds
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that carries both the merle pattern allele and the co-dominate modifying gene for harlequin, PSMB7 (also known as H). This causes most or all of the diluted "blue" color to be replaced with white, resulting in a dog that is mostly white with black patches. All dogs exhibiting the harlequin pattern
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merle dogs are mated, on the average, one-quarter of the puppies will be "double merles", which is the common term for dogs homozygous for the longest versions of the merle alleles, and a high percentage of these double merle puppies could have eye defects or be deaf. Knowledgeable and responsible
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In one study of 38 dachshunds by a German researcher, partial hearing loss was found in 54.6% of double merles and 36.8% of single merles. One out of the 11 (9.1%) double merles was fully deaf while none of the single merles were. Another study done by
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has acknowledged the health risk associated with these particular homozygous merles and stopped registering puppies produced from merle to merle matings in 2013. Merle to merle mating is currently only forbidden in three breeds.
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Dogs who are homozygous for certain merle alleles often have visual and auditory deficits. These dogs are sometimes referred to as "double merle" and sometimes incorrectly referred to as "lethal white". Ocular defects include
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400:, but these dogs are not purebred. In 2020 the UK Kennel Club (the oldest in the World) banned the registration of merle Poodles as it is not and never has been a colour pattern recognised in pure Poodles by the club.
513:, reflects some of the problems associated with heterozygous and homozygous merle dogs and genetic research in dogs has been undertaken with the goal of better understanding the genetic basis of this human condition.
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breeders who want to produce merle puppies mate a merle with a non-merle dog; roughly half the puppies will be merles, and none will have the vision or hearing defects associated with double merle dogs.
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In 2018, a published paper identified six general categories of merle alleles that affect (or do not affect) the final coat color depending on the length of the SINE insertion within them.
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In addition to altering the base coat color, merle also modifies eye color and coloring on the nose and paw pads. The merle allele modifies the dark pigment, resulting in eyes or
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Deaf and/or blind dogs can live well with proper care. Various internet groups are dedicated to supporting carers of such dogs. Deaf dogs can compete successfully in agility.
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Dogs with two copies of some versions of the merle allele (called "double merle") have an even higher probability of being deaf and with vision impairments. The UK
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can still be affected by merle, but the patches are either hardly seen or, if the dog is a clear recessive red, are not visible at all. Combinations such as
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Strain, GM; Clark LA; Wahl JM; Turner AE; Murphy KE. (3 March 2009). "Prevalence of deafness in dogs heterozygous or homozygous for the merle allele".
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as well. Two types of colored patches generally appear in a merle coat: brown/liver (red merle) and black (blue merle). Associated breeds include
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Certain modifying genes work in tandem (co-dominate expressive) with the merle alleles to create a completely different look to the pattern.
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265:. It results in different colors and patterns and can affect any coats. The allele creates mottled patches of color in a solid or
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the merle pattern is known as "harlequin". The merle allele also plays a part in producing harlequin
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935:"Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog"
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509:(inner ear) leads to blue eyes and deafness. An auditory-pigmentation disorder in humans,
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Langevin, Mary; Synkova, Helena; Jancuskova, Tereza; Pekova, Sona (20 September 2018).
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turning blue. Since merle causes random modifications, dark-eyed, blue-eyed and
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1388:: Basic, simple-language explanation of Australian Shepherd merle colorings
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are possible. Pigmentation on paw pads and nose may be mottled by pink.
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Merle is a distinguishing marking of several breeds, particularly the
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showing potential consequences of breeding two merle dogs together
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Catahoula Coat Color
Genetics - Introduction and History of Merle
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1107:"Merle phenotypes in dogs – SILV SINE insertions from Mc to Mh"
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announced the discovery of a mobile genetic unit called a
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and sable merle exist, but are not typically accepted in
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Clark, LA; Wahl JM; Rees CA; Murphy KE (31 Jan 2006).
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579:, conditions causing increased ocular pressure and
90:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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1419:
808:"Pomeranian Colors - Any other allowable color"
785:"Chihuahua Club of Canada - Merle Breeding Ban"
381:, and the pattern may not be recognized by the
1402:Banning of Merle 'pattern' Chihuahua in Canada
1373:"Basic Body Colors of the Australian Shepherd"
1220:. The Kennel Club. 18 May 2012. Archived from
545:mix homozygous for merle displaying bilateral
365:, the merle pattern is known as "dapple". In
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53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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474:also have the merle allele. Found only in
1243:Gustafson, JP; et al., eds. (2008).
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215:Learn how and when to remove this message
150:Learn how and when to remove this message
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525:A deaf eight-month-old homozygous merle
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192:of all important aspects of the article.
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1174:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
829:Registration of dogs of merle colouring
465:Often mistaken for a "double merle", a
392:Merle is sometimes introduced to other
333:, and appears in others, including the
1420:
846:Dog Coat Colour Genetics: Doppel-Merle
188:Please consider expanding the lead to
1277:"Eye defects in Australian Shepherds"
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711:. Perfect Peks Kennel. Archived from
630:"Schmutz - Merle coat color genetics"
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88:adding citations to reliable sources
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18:
1397:Border Wars - Double Merle Articles
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656:"Recessive Red Merle Border Collie"
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586:
13:
1011:"Obtaining an Australian Shepherd"
985:"UC Davis – Merle genetic testing"
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497:The suppression of pigment cells (
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658:. Carole Presberg. Archived from
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478:, (and registered as Harlequin).
34:This article has multiple issues.
1392:Homozygous "Lethal White" Merles
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805:
741:"Merle Color in Cocker Spaniels"
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419:The merle allele is actually an
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1218:"Merle to merle mating in dogs"
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1196:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0257.x
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765:. The Dachshund Magazine Online
685:. Lisa McDonald. Archived from
434:In January 2006, scientists at
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75:needs additional citations for
42:or discuss these issues on the
16:Genetic pattern in a dog's coat
1412:Merle Color In Cocker Spaniels
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709:"Merle Coat, mottled paw pads"
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190:provide an accessible overview
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1351:Merle dog coat color genetics
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1132:10.1371/journal.pone.0198536
939:Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A
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7:
1009:Coile, D. Caroline (1999).
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335:Miniature American Shepherd
10:
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1414:—The American Spaniel Club
1088:"Dog Coat Colour Genetics"
810:. American Pomeranian Club
787:. Chihuahua Club of Canada
469:(or just harlequin), is a
253:is a genetic pattern in a
1356:Deafness in Dogs and Cats
610:List of dog coat patterns
501:) in the iris and in the
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1303:"George Strain on Merle"
884:"White Aussies Brochure"
833:www.thekennelclub.org.uk
594:Texas A&M University
436:Texas A&M University
385:, disqualifying it from
952:10.1073/pnas.0506940103
911:. White Aussies Project
889:. White Aussies Project
743:. American Spaniel Club
1366:Genetics of merle dogs
1328:"Deaf Dogs Roundtable"
835:accessed 20 March 2021
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287:Catahoula Leopard Dogs
273:, and can affect skin
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1361:White Aussies Project
1017:. Barron's. pp.
849:www.doggenetics.co.uk
421:incompletely dominant
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331:Catahoula Leopard Dog
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99:"Merle" dog coat
1015:Australian Shepherds
564:homozygous for merle
511:Waardenberg syndrome
351:Cardigan Welsh Corgi
283:Australian Shepherds
84:improve this article
1247:Genomics of Disease
1123:2018PLoSO..1398536L
763:"The Double Dapple"
662:on 21 November 2011
562:Australian Shepherd
527:Australian Shepherd
377:but not allowed in
359:Bergamasco Shepherd
327:Australian Shepherd
261:and alleles of the
245:Australian Shepherd
1428:Animal coat colors
683:"Aussie Eye Color"
654:Presberg, Carole.
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341:in Australia, the
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1262:978-0-387-76722-2
1092:doggenetics.co.uk
1044:"Schmutz – Merle"
1042:Schmutz, Sheila.
1028:978-0-7641-0558-6
862:"Schmutz – Merle"
860:Sheila, Schmutz.
689:on 7 October 2011
628:Schmutz, Sheila.
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343:Shetland Sheepdog
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1046:. Sheila Schmutz
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1381:. Retrieved
1377:the original
1331:. Retrieved
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1310:. Retrieved
1308:. Merle Poms
1280:. Retrieved
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1226:. Retrieved
1222:the original
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1180:(2): 282–6.
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713:the original
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687:the original
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660:the original
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379:conformation
349:breeds, the
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279:Carea Leonés
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177:lead section
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82:Please help
77:verification
74:
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36:Please help
33:
1438:Dog anatomy
1433:Animal hair
1228:7 September
597:were deaf.
499:melanocytes
491:Kennel Club
476:Great Danes
371:Great Danes
293:Description
231:Blue merle
1422:Categories
1383:2007-05-15
1312:27 October
1251:. p.
1050:27 October
987:. UC Davis
915:27 October
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616:References
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363:Dachshunds
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198:April 2012
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182:summarize
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357:and the
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