Racing Pigeon DNA Test for Flight Ability | 8 Tests Combo

This is a test service, you can send samples to our lab and we will give the test result in 3 days.

Please contact us for details

Details of Racing Pigeon Tests

• We highly recommend you contact us before any racing pigeon tests.
• Prepare your pigeon samples according to the instructions below.
• Send the samples to our laboratory through any express service that has services in China.
• Testing will take approximately 2-3 working days.
• We will email you a report based on the samples.
• Feel free to contact us anytime—we provide comprehensive technical support.

Instruction of Sampling

• Wear protective gear: Put on latex gloves.
• Disinfection: Spray both hands with disinfectant alcohol for complete disinfection. Allow the alcohol to dry.
• Labeling: Use a marker to label the clean self-sealing bag with the pigeon’s information (e.g., owner’s name, leg band number).
• Feather Collection: Select slightly thicker feathers from the pigeon’s tail (avoiding tail feathers) or the chest and abdomen. Quickly pluck a small bunch (preferably 5–6 or more feathers). Place the feathers into the clean self-sealing bag.

          ( Please DO NOT collect naturally fallen feathers, feathers with minimal shafts, or down feathers for submission.)

• Handling: Avoid touching the feather shafts. Do not collect naturally fallen feathers, feathers with minimal shafts, or down feathers.
• Bag Handling: Seal the self-sealing bag.
• Sanitization: Use disinfectant alcohol to thoroughly sanitize your hands.
• Repeat: Proceed to pluck feathers from the next bird.

Introduction of The Racing Pigeon Tests Service

• This test is a fluorescent PCR detection targeting 8 genetic loci in racing pigeons.
• These 8 genetic loci determine the pigeon’s innate flight ability.
• By conducting DNA testing on the pigeon’s flight ability, you can understand its strengths and weaknesses.
• This test can provide a scientific basis for how to arrange the racing, training, and breeding of your pigeons.
• The test is simple, quick, and highly accurate.
• According to our feedback, the average win rate of pigeons selected after testing can be increased by approximately 5%.

Important Note:

Many unpredictable factors may affect the performance of racing pigeons. Our test only provides a reference at the genetic level.

The Test Indicators and Principles of 

1. Endurance Indicator – Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA):

Function: Enzyme involved in the metabolism of lactate, primarily present in muscle cells, especially wing muscles.

Impact on Flight Ability:

• High expression of LDHA enhances muscle strength and endurance, improving flight capability.
• The low expression may reduce flight performance.

Mechanism:

• Converts glycogen in muscles into energy during flight.
• Related to metabolic capacity and muscle type (high expression linked to fast muscle fibers, low expression linked to slow muscle fibers).

Gene Locus: g.2582481G>A

Evaluation Criteria: A/A (optimal), A/G (good), G/G (average).

2. Homing Ability – Dopamine Receptor (DRD4):

Association with Flight Ability:

• Dopamine receptors significantly impact the flight capability of pigeons.
• Strong homing instincts correlate with better racing results.

Genotype Effects:

• CTCT (excellent performance), TTCC (good), CCCT (favorable), CTCC (acceptable), CCCC (average).
• Pigeons with CTCT genotype perform best, CCCC genotype performs relatively poorly.

Application: Effect verified in speed and middle-distance races, speculated to impact long-distance races as well.

3. Muscle Indicator – Myostatin (MSTN):

Function: Key negative regulator of skeletal muscle development.

Impact on Flight Ability:

• Regulates muscle cell and muscle fiber bundle formation.
• Strong MSTN regulation contributes to superior muscle development and enhances strength and endurance with training.

Significance: MSTN is a decisive factor in a pigeon’s flight capability.

4. Feather Indicator – Feather Keratin (F-KER):

Composition: Main component of feathers, particularly in the feather shaft area (90% β-keratin).

Genetic Influence:

• F-KER gene encodes feather keratin, and specific genetic variations affect keratin’s amino acid composition.

Genotype Performance: TT genotype individuals outperform GG genotype in long-distance races.

5. Navigation Indicator – Cryptochrome 1 (CRY1):

Function: Protein involved in circadian rhythms, navigation, and migration.

Impact on Flight Ability:

• Perceives light changes, influencing biological clock and navigation.
• Helps pigeons sense subtle changes in Earth’s magnetic field, aiding in accurate navigation.

Genetic Influence: Certain cryptochrome gene variants may affect migratory behavior and flight ability.

Gene Locus: g.31975-31976 AG > TT

Evaluation Criteria: AG/AG (average), AG/TT (good), TT/TT (excellent).

6. Magnetoreception Indicator – GSR:

Function: The GSR gene is associated with magnetoreception and is a candidate gene for the biological compass pathway in homing pigeons.

Biological Role:

• Involved in signal transduction and metabolic regulation.
• Directly influences the ability to perceive magnetic field changes.

Impact on Navigation:

• Helps pigeons sense Earth’s magnetic field changes during long-distance migration.
• Information processed in the brain guides flight direction.

Broader Implications:

• Similar magnetoreception mechanisms may exist in other organisms.
• Research on GSR could lead to advancements in magnetic field perception technologies and enhance understanding of adaptive mechanisms in organisms.

7. Learning and Memory Indicator – LRP8:

• Function: Encodes a protein crucial for synaptic function, learning, and memory in pigeons.

Role in Synaptic Function:

• Regulates synaptic formation, maintenance, and transmission efficiency.
• Ensures accurate and efficient neural signal transmission.

Impact on Learning and Memory:

• Influences neural circuits and signal transduction processes related to learning and memory.
• Affects synaptic plasticity and neuronal connectivity, enhancing learning and memory abilities.

Research Approaches:

• Gene editing to study LRP8 expression and regulation under different conditions.
• Molecular biology techniques to explore interactions with other genes and complex regulatory networks.

8. Neuro-Muscular Development Indicator – CASK:

Function: A multi-domain protein crucial for tissue development and cell signaling.

Role in Skeletal Muscle:

• Regulates neuromuscular junction development in pigeon skeletal muscles.
• Essential for muscle contraction and movement, influencing high-speed flight and agility.

Mechanism:

• Interacts with calcium ions and calmodulin to regulate intracellular signaling pathways.
• Responds to changes in calcium concentration, activating or inhibiting downstream signals.

Importance in Pigeons:

• Enhances muscle contraction efficiency and supports overall physical performance.
• Involved in differentiating nerve terminals, forming synapses, and arranging muscle fibers.