Pedigrees

Thoroughbred

How much is that doggie in the window? The price may depend on the pedigree, traceable through DNA analysis. Dogs and horses are among the first show animals whose bloodlines are scrutinized to the DNA level. Through DNA fingerprinting, comparisons of offspring to parents insure the buyer gets the correct genetic merchandise. Breeders can trace a lineage back several generations using DNA-based registries.

Paternity

Beluga Whale

DNA fingerprints are sometimes used to manage populations of captive animals, such as the beluga whales at the New York Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation. When two pregnant females—who shared a tank with two males—gave birth, researchers compared the calves' DNA to that of the males to see who the fathers were. Keepers used the results to decide which of the babies should move to another tank to avoid inbreeding.