Animal genetics

Animal genetics is a branch of genetics that studies heredity and variation primarily in domestic animals. It is based on general genetic principles and concepts, and it mainly uses the hybrid, cytological, population, ontogenetic, mathematical-statistical, and twin methods of general genetics.

Overview

Animal genetics involves the study of gene expression, color genetics, animal breeding, and genetic diseases. Animal genetics incorporates a wide range of topics, such as inheritance, dominance, gene expression, mutation, genetic variation, and selective breeding.

Animal Breeding

Animal breeding is a branch of animal genetics that addresses the application of genetic principles in the improvement of domestic animal populations. The process involves the selection of parents that have characteristics desired in the offspring, and focus is on the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring.

Genetic Diseases

Genetic diseases in animals can be inherited from the parents or caused by mutations. Some common genetic diseases in animals include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and von Willebrand disease.

Selective Breeding

Selective breeding is the process by which humans use animal genetics to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits by choosing which typically animal males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together.

See Also

• Genetics
• Animal breeding
• Genetic diseases
• Selective breeding