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Molecular Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory

Services - Karyotyping

Our Lab specializes in performing karyotyping analysis for a variety of animals like cattle,horse,sheep,goat,pig,dog,cat and even exotic species.

Download the Karyotyping form here


$300 Basic chromosome analysis from blood for species with available karyotype standard (cattle, horse, sheep, pig, goat, dog, cat, llama, and alpaca).
$350 Basic chromosome analysis from blood for species with NO karyotype standard (exotic species).
$600 Basic chromosome analysis from fibroblast cultures of any species. The price includes incubation and subculturing the cells for 1 week. For cultures that require longer growth and more subculturing, there will be an additional charge of $50 per week per culture.
$600 Basic chromosome analysis for insurance agencies and private companies.
$200 extra G-banding and G-banded karyotypes
$200 extra use of FISH for molecular cytogenetic analysis
$10 extra Sodium heparin/ Lithium and EDTA vacutainers


X-monosomy Karyotype of a mare with X-monosomy (2n=63,XO). The condition is the most frequent chromosome abnormality among infertile mares. Affected animals can be smaller than average in size but are otherwise normal and healthy.
Mule chromosomes Mule chromosomes (2n=63). Mule is a horse-donkey hybrid where the sire is a donkey and the dam is a mare. Thus, half of the chromosomes are derived from the donkey (2n=62) and half from the horse (2n=64). Due to significant differences between horse and donkey chromosomes, it is easy to identify mules using chromosome analysis.
Alpaca karyotype Alpaca karyotype with a 'minute'chromosome. Animals with this condition are typically infertile. The 'minute' chromosome has not yet been identified and the molecular causes of the syndrome are not known. This is partially because alpacas and other camelids have one of the most 'difficult' karyotypes among domestic species. High chromosome number (2n=74) and similarity in morphology and banding patterns between chromosome pairs makes cytogenetic analysis in camelids challenging. Consequently, only a few chromosome abnormalities have been identified in alpacas and llamas.

Required information

For each sample we require the following information (if available):

  1. Reason for karyotyping, clinical and reproductive history
  2. Species
  3. Breed
  4. Registration ID (optional)
  5. Age
  6. Gender (if known)
  7. Color
  8. Information for the sire and the dam: names, clinical history (if anything abnormal).

Results and payment

  • Normal turn-around time for results is 10 working days.
  • The results will be sent as a pdf file by fax or by email (as requested). The sender will be supplied with an image of a metaphase chromosome spread and the karyotype from a cell obtained from the sample. To ensure confidentiality, results will not be provided by phone, unless the requesting agency wants it.
  • Charges: Check with the payment can be sent to us together with the sample or we will charge you later after the results are finalized. Please make the checks payable to Texas AgriLife Research. Also, please provide us with the name, address and phone number for the person or agency to be invoiced.