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Merle

We have identified that a retrotransposon insertion in the SILV gene causes the merle coat pattern in the dog. The merle locus (M), when present in the homozygous state, is associated with multiple abnormalities. Genetic testing for the identification of the merle allele is now available at GenMark, the DNA technology service of VITA-TECH Laboratories. This work was carried out by Leigh Anne Clark and Jacquelyn Wahl.

Link to paper

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Merle patterning is found in many breeds. Left to right: Cheyenne (Mm), a blue merle Rough Collie, Barkos (Mm), a harlequin Great Dane, Tucker (Mm), a dapple Dachshund, Jag (MM), a double merle Shetland Sheepdog, and Mouse (Mm), a blue merle Shetland Sheepdog. Harlequin Great Danes may be either Mm or MM.

Blue is a blue merle Shetland Sheepdog. She is heterozygous for the M locus.

Jag is a Shetland Sheepdog homozygous for the M locus. He is bi-laterally deaf and has colobomas.

Morgan is a red Australian Shepherd homozygous for the M locus. She is bi-laterally deaf and has multiple ocular abnormalities.

Merle is called dapple in the Dachshund breed. Lola is heterozygous for the M locus.

Sprout (standing) is a cryptic merle Shetland Sheepdog. She is heterozygous for the M locus but does not have the merle phenotype.