Breeding around the mutant Fanconi gene....
it isn't really an art, and it isn't rocket science...
it is simple GENETICS!!

Fanconi is a 'simple recessive' disease in which every single dog gets one gene from each parent.
The following "Punnett Squares" show the basic genetic make-up of what COULD
be produced by each of the following possible breedings.
You can see information on the Fanconi Linkage Test and FAQs on the BasenjiHealth.org site.
For all basic purposes, we will use the following notations:
N = Normal, or "unaffected" gene (mutant gene)
n = abnormal, or "affected" gene
The results of these crosses produced will ultimately result in the following:
NN = Normal, or Probable Fanconi Clear
Nn = Carrier, or Probable Fanconi Carrier
nn = Abnormal, or Probable Fanconi Affected
IND = Indeterminate, or Indeterminate between Probable Clear and Probable Carrier
(this dog will NOT become affected with Fanconi Syndrome)

We have been instructed to ASSUME that all IND basenjis are Carriers for breeding purposes.
They carry the mutant gene, and therefore CAN pass it on to their offspring.

The percentages seen below indicate the likelihood or chance that EACH puppy in that litter
will have at being Clear, Carrier, or Affected with Fanconi Syndrome.
Some folks will tell you that those percentages mean that is how many from each litter will 
be Clear, Carrier and Affected, THAT IS WRONG !!!
Genetics of a simple recessive is based on PROBABILITY, or chance.

HOW PUNNETT SQUARES WORK:

One *letter* [these are genes] from each parent goes into each *square*.
The four squares represent the probability, or chance, that the offspring has of getting the desired or non-desired, trait.  
Each square is equal to 25%.
EACH offspring in this case has a 50% chance of having the AA, or Clear/Normal, genes,
AND 50% chance of having the Aa, or Carrier, genes.

This does NOT mean that 50% of the pups are Clear/Normal and 50% are Carriers.
It is the probability, or chance of EACH PUPPY!!!

THE FOLLOWING BREEDINGS ARE THE ONLY BREEDINGS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE 
BCOA HEALTH COMMITTEE,   if a breeder tells you differently, you need to go elsewhere.
There is absolutely NO breeding that gives even the smallest chance of producing Fanconi that is worth doing!


Probable Clear  bred to a Probable Clear

EACH PUPPY has a 100% chance of being Normal, or Probable Clear (NN).
THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE BREEDING.


Probable Clear  bred to a Probable Carrier

EACH PUPPY has a 50% chance of being Normal or Probable Clear (NN)  
and a 50% chance of being Probable Carrier (Nn).
THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE BREEDING.


Probable Clear  bred to a Probable Affected

EACH PUPPY has a 100% chance of being a Probable Carrier (Nn).
THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE BREEDING.


THE FOLLOWING BREEDINGS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED,
as each puppy from the resulting litters has a probability of being a Probable Affected.

Probable Carrier bred to a Probable Carrier

EACH PUPPY has a 25% chance of being Normal or Probable Clear (NN), 
a 50% chance of being Probable Carrier (Nn), 
and a 25% chance of being Probable Affected.
NOT  A GOOD BREEDING.


Probable Carrier bred to a Probable Affected

EACH PUPPY has a 50% chance of being a  Probable Carrier (Nn).
and a 50% chance of being a Probable Affected.
NOT  A GOOD BREEDING.


Probable Carrier bred to an Untested

EACH PUPPY has at least a 25% chance of being Probable Clear or Probable Carrier (carrying at least one Normal gene), 
the rest of the probability is unknown.
NOT  A GOOD BREEDING.


Untested bred to an Untested

All puppies genetic make-up is completely unknown.  Fanconi Sydrome could affect any, all, or none of them.
NOT  A GOOD BREEDING... better to play Russian Roulette in Las Vegas!

A Probable Carrier or INDeterminate basenji makes just as good of a companion
as does a Probable Clear basenji, so do not be misled that you cannot have them as companions.
What matters is that they are FREE of Fanconi Syndrome.
None of these will become afflicted with Fanconi Syndrome during their lifetime.


THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO BUY A PUPPY FROM A BREEDER THAT 
IS NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED BREEDING PRACTICES
SET FORTH BY THE BCOA HEALTH COMMITTEE.
Breeding AGAINST these practices is not only irresponsible,
but it is NOT fair to the resulting puppies and their new owners!


PLEASE ask about other diseases that can affect your Basenji.  
PRA and Hip Dysplasio are not simple recessive diseases, 
therefore they do not follow the above probabilities.
BUT, there is absolutely NO reason to breed a basenji that is AFFECTED with PRA or HIP DYSPLASIA!
Anyone telling you otherwise is irresponsible in their breeding practices.

For info on Fanconi and how Khani's strives to produce only puppies that will never 
become afflicted with this disease, contact Kathy at bennyburnerbono@aol.com  

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