Participate in Research

How To Participate

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL – ALL CATS CAN PARTICIPATE!

There are a variety of ways to assist genetic research of the domestic cat – any cat owner can be of assistance! Listed below are the different ways you can help! Please also see the Feline Research Projects for additional information!

• Donate to the Lyons laboratory for feline genetics. We can’t do a project without funding!
• Please contribute DNA samples from your cats! Normal healthy cats are as important as cats that have health concerns because the normal cats are much needed controls.Help motivate breeders & owners to contribute money, cats, DNA samples or just information and spread the news of the project!
  1. Send samples directly to the Lyons laboratory using this Submission Form (PDF). DNA samples can be of various types – see Sampling Protocols – for information for the type of DNA sample you can send. A Letter to US Customs will help shipments from abroad to the USA. Please be sure to remind us of why you are sending the sample – Dr. Lyons is not always present when samples are received.
  2. Contribute additional buccal samples for research when requesting tests at the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) – Feline Test. Additional samples are submitted by clicking a box when submitting genetic tests and printing an extra submission form for Cat PHIR (Cat Phenotypic & Health Information Registry). The VGL sends these samples to the Lyons Laboratory. Later you will be contacted by Cat PHIR to provide health information regarding your cat. Please see – Sampling Protocols – for instructions on buccal swab collections.
• Perform your cat DNA testing at university-associated service laboratories or laboratories that contribute to research efforts. University-associated laboratories are more likely to store samples long-term and can readily provide them to investigators. Data from the testing is more readily shared as well. The Lyons lab encourages services laboratories to perform cat testing and we are willing to support any laboratory that asks for assistance.

Collaborative Research – Cat DNA Testing Laboratories

DNA Collection Instructions

• Collecting Buccal Swabs.
• Collecting Alcohol Fixed Samples
• Collecting Blood Samples
• Collecting Formalin – Fixed Tissue Samples
• Collecting Tissue Samples