title: Inherited abnormalities of skeletal development in sheep.
abstract: Inherited diseases of the skeleton are reported less often in sheep than in most other domestic animal species but are likely to occur more frequently than the veterinary literature would suggest. Although most are lethal or semi-lethal, the gene frequency for some of these diseases has reached surprisingly high levels in defined populations, presumably due either to the founder effect or the presence of a selective advantage of heterozygous individuals. This article reviews the clinical characteristics, pathology, mode of inheritance and molecular basis of skeletal diseases known to have a genetic aetiology in sheep. Inherited skeletal diseases of sheep are potential models for studying the treatment of similar diseases in humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, P.O. Box 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. K.G.Thompson@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Piripi
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dittmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001947:Breeding; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012106:Research; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology