1. Basic genetics - Chromosomes - Meiosis and mitosis - The biochemistry of inheritance - What is a gene? - Gene regulation - Mutation - Genes, alleles, and loci - Simple or Mendelian inheritance - Linkage - Inactivation - Types of DNA - Appendix 1.1 Banded karyotypes of domestic species 2. Molecular biology - Restriction enzymes - Recombinant DNA and DNA cloning - Complementary DNA - DNA sequencing - Polymerase chain reaction - Southern analysis and related technologies - DNA expression microarrays - The detection of variation in base sequence - Veterinary diagnosis - Variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), DNA fingerprints, and microsatellites - Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) - Copy number variation (CNV) - Gene mapping - Whole-genome sequence assembly - Production of polypeptide from cloned DNA - Transgenesis - Antisense technology - RNA interference 3. Single-gene disorders - Inborn errors of metabolism - Sex-limited inheritance - Genetic heterogeneity of disease - Type of gene action and type of disease - Phenocopies - A sample of single-gene disorders - A revolution in mapping and identifying the causal mutation of single-gene disorders - Appendix 3.1 A sample of single-gene traits that have been characterized at the molecular level 4. Chromosomal aberrations - Abnormal chromosome number - Abnormal chromosome structure - Chromosomal aberrations in cancer - Evolution of karyotypes - Interspecific hybridization - Freemartins - Biological basis of sex - Classification of intersex - A sample of chromosomal aberrations - Appendix 4.1 A sample of chromosomal aberrations in animals 5. Single genes in populations - Gene and genotype frequencies - Random mating - The Hardy-Weinberg law - Extensions to the Hardy-Weinberg law - Selection and mutation - Genetic drift and the founder effect - Extending population genetics to more than one locus 6. Familial disorders not due to a single gene - Liability and threshold - The multifactorial model - More than one threshold 7. Is it inherited? - General evidence for a genetic aetiology - The four types of simple, Mendelian inheritance - Studying and analysing the data 8. Immunogenetics - Antibodies - Red-cell antigens - The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) 9. Pharmacogenetics - Genetic polymorphisms affecting drug metabolism - Genetics and anaesthesia - Warfarin resistance - Multifactorial pharmacogenetics 10. Hosts, parasites, and pathogens - Host-pathogen interactions - Resistance in hosts - Resistance in parasites and pathogens - Control of parasites and pathogens - Increasing the level of resistance in hosts 11. Single genes in animal breeding - Coat colour - Examples of coat-colour genes - Carpet wool - Prolificacy in sheep - Polledness - Muscular hypertrophy in cattle and sheep - Dwarf poultry - Genes for sexing chickens - Pedigree checking 12. Relationship and inbreeding - The inbreeding coefficient - Relationship - The inbreeding coefficient revisited - A general expression for relationship and inbreeding - The base population - Inbreeding in populations - Inbreeding depression 13. Quantitative variation - Quantitative traits - The performance of an individual animal - The differences between animals - Heritability - Correlations between traits - Quantitative trait loci (QTL) 14. Selection between populations - Comparison between populations - Genotype-environment interaction 15. Selection within populations - Estimated breeding values and accuracy of selection - Clues to a candidate's breeding value for a trait - Combining clues from more than one source - Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) - Correlated traits - Selection for more than one trait - The importance of inbreeding and genetic drift - Sire-reference schemes - Marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genome- wide selection (GWS) 16. Breed structure - The traditional pyramid - Closed-nucleus breeding schemes - Open-nucleus breeding schemes 17. Crossing - Regular crossing - Crossing to produce a synthetic - Grading-up 18. Selection and regular crossing - Selection - Selection and regular crossing 19. Biotechnology and the future - Artificial insemination (AI) - Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) - In vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of ova - Control of sex ratio - Recombinant proteins - Transgenesis - Animal cloning 20. Conservation genetics - Measurement of genetic diversity within populations - Measurement of genetic diversity among populations - Importance of genetic diversity - Loss of genetic diversity - Conservation of genetic diversity 21. Genetic and environmental control of inherited disorders - Environmental control of inherited disorders - Genetic control of single-gene disorders - Gene therapy - Genetic control of multifactorial disorders - Genetic control - some final points - Crossing: thinking outside the square