title: Animal medical genetics: a perspective on the epidemiology and control of inherited disorders.
abstract: This perspective considers genetic disorders of domestic animal populations, in particular their epidemiology and control. Inherited disorders of animals share the same basic molecular biology as those of human beings, but they differ in their epidemiology due largely to the breed structure of the various species, human control of breeding and a greater influence of the founder effect, particularly due to extensive use of a limited number of sires, and inbreeding. Control of genetic disorders in animals is also more practical through extensive screening for disease, or heterozygous animals within defined breed populations, followed by exclusion of affected or carrier animals from breeding. This is assisted by the fact that, within a breed, many inherited monogenic disorders are associated with a single mutation. However some of the more important disorders may be inherited in a non-Mendelian manner, being influenced by multiple genes as well as environmental factors. These aspects are discussed and contrasted with similar aspects in human medical genetics.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4422 , New Zealand.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4422 , New Zealand.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dittmer
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4422 , New Zealand.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000662:veterinary*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007178:Inbreeding
keywords: Genetic disorders; animals; breeds; epidemiology; founder effect; genetic screening; in-breeding