1. What is the Kennel Club Breeding Coefficient?

The Kennel Club Breeding Coefficient (COI) calculates the probability that two copies of a gene pair are identical by descent. It measures the degree of inbreeding in a pedigree, expressed as a percentage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Kennel Club formula:

Where:

• \( n \) — Number of generations separating the parents via each common ancestor
• \( F_a \) — Inbreeding coefficient of the common ancestor
• The sum is taken over all common ancestors in the pedigree

Explanation: The equation accounts for both the number of common ancestors and their own level of inbreeding.

3. Importance of COI Calculation

Details: COI helps breeders make informed decisions to maintain genetic diversity. Lower COI generally indicates healthier breeding with reduced risk of inherited disorders.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of generations in the pedigree, count of common ancestors, and their average inbreeding coefficient. For unknown ancestor coefficients, use 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good COI value?
A: Ideally below 5% for a 5-generation pedigree. Above 10% is considered high risk for genetic disorders.

Q2: How many generations should I include?
A: The Kennel Club standard is 5 generations, but more generations provide more accurate results.

Q3: What if I don't know the ancestors' inbreeding coefficients?
A: You can use 0 as a conservative estimate, but this will underestimate the true COI.

Q4: How does COI relate to genetic diversity?
A: Higher COI means less genetic diversity, increasing risk of recessive genetic disorders.

Q5: Can COI predict specific health problems?
A: No, it only indicates overall risk. Specific genetic testing is needed for particular disorders.