Hello, and thank you for your enquiry about the horse genetics

Hello, and thank you for your enquiry about the horse genetics diploma.
You've probably already looked, but if not please make sure you have seen:
http://www.horse-genetics.com/horse-genetics-diploma.html
Some additional details about the course structure and the assignments is shown below
(assignment details are on page 7). Also there are answers to some frequently asked
questions beneath that.
Please feel free to ask anything else that comes to mind (email is
gdgiddings@hotmail.com or nightowlee@yahoo.com). If I seem to email at odd times
please remember I am on London time (UK).
Do not worry if you do not understand some of the terms you see in this detailed course
content list, learning about them is what the course is for!
The Institute of Animal Care Education have classified the diploma as a level three course
of about 200 or more hours study. Level 3 is about equivalent to UK A level.
I think they are largely right. The course gently works up to about A level, and then in to a
little degree level study. Do not let this frighten you - I always think of first year degree
level as being the time when students of disparate backgrounds are brought up to a
similar level of knowledge in their degree subject, as far as that is possible. (I taught
genetics at university for quite a long time, up to doctorate level.)
As for the number of hours it depends on your background, natural ability and recent
familiarity with studying. It also depends on what project you do at the end, and if it
includes any personal research, or is more of a desk-study (although either could be quite
involved). Some students are so well motivated they speed through the modules, but then
get engrossed in their final project. However... it really does not matter how long you
take, as long as you have fun and learn something useful!
Best Wishes,
Glynis
Module one: Genetics and basic inheritance
What is Horse Genetics?
Horse genetics is the science of heredity as applied to horses
Lesson one: Genes, alleles and chromosomes
Introduction
Genes are the units of heredity
Genes occur in different forms called alleles
Each gene is represented twice in any particular individual
Genes are organised on chromosomes
Chromosomes occur in pairs
The sex chromosomes are non-homologous
A few genes are not in the cell nucleus
Summary
References
Lesson two: Inheritance and reproduction in the horse
Introduction
An introduction to inheritance and reproduction in the horse
Genes, alleles, chromosomes and inheritance
The curly coat genes: an example of some important concepts
Summary
Lesson three: Mendelian inheritance
Mendel’s First Law of Segregation
Considering two characters at once
How many foals would I need to get a certain phenotype?
Summary
Module one assignment
Module Two: modified and complex inheritance
Lesson four: Modified Ratios
Introduction
Partial dominance
Co-dominance
Lethal alleles
Lethal White Overo
Epistasis
Penetrance and expressivity
Summary
Reference
Lesson five: Genetic Linkage
Introduction
Linkage and the gene for equine combined immune deficiency disorder
Partial Linkage
example of partial linkage
Sex Linkage
Summary
References
Lesson six: Complex Traits and Polygenic Inheritance
Introduction
Continuous Traits
Describing the variation for a quantitative trait
Continuous Traits are Polygenic
How can quantitative genetics be useful to horse-breeders?
Running Speed in Race Horses
Personality traits, and their possible connections with colour and pattern
Summary
References
Module two assignment
Module three: Equine Molecular Genetics
Lesson seven - An introduction to molecular genetics
Introduction
The structure of DNA
DNA and chromosome structure
Genes and proteins
The genetic code
What is a gene?
Redundant DNA
The Horse Genome
Summary
Lesson eight - Finding and characterising genes for a particular
phenotype
Introduction
Physical mapping of the equine SCID gene
Heterohybridoma panels
Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH)
Comparative mapping
Replicating DNA in a tube
DNA microarrays and chips
Summary
References
Lesson nine - molecular genetics testing
Introduction
Impressive: a tale of triumph and tragedy
Genetic Testing
Allele specific PCR: genetic testing the modern way
Linkage testing
PyroSequencing
DNA microarrays and chips
Fingerprinting
Example of fingerprinting: conservation of the Przewalski horse
Summary
References
Module three assignment
Module four: Evolution and Natural Selection
Lesson 10: Evolution
Introduction
Evolution doesn’t have goals
The Forces of Evolution
Mutation
Selection
Genetic drift
Inbreeding
Migration
Summary
Lesson 11: Breeding Systems
Introduction
Pedigrees and the influence of ancestors
Inbreeding and homozygosity
Linebreeding
The dangers of inbreeding
Inbreeding with selection
Outbreeding
Is genetic variation always a good thing?
Do some sires consistently stamp their own likeness on their foals?
Molecular genetic tests to help breeders
DNA test can detect carriers so that they don‘t pass it on to other horses.
Summary
References
Lesson 12: Domestication and ancient breeds
Introduction
Early Domestication
Are domestic horses descended from one type of wild horse?
North European Breeds
Iberian and North African Horses
Caspian Horses
Molecular Evidence of the Y chromosome
Summary
References
Module four assignment
Module five: The Genetics of Coat Colours and Patterns
Module Introduction
Lesson 13: Basic colour genetics
Introduction
What influences colour?
Melanocytes and development
Melanin pigments
The importance of tyrosinase, and it’s affect on pigment dilution
The base colours
The brown locus
The extension locus
The agouti locus
"Does the agouti locus have only two alleles?" and other mysteries
Jeanette Gower’s model
The molecular mechanisms of the extension and agouti genes in horses
Summary
References
Lesson 14: Dilute colours
Introduction
The cream dilution gene
Palomino
The dun locus
The Champagne Gene
The Silver Gene
Pearl and Barlink Factor
Summary
References
Lesson 15: White and white patterns
Introduction
Dominant white and the importance of the KIT gene
Sabino
Tobiano
Roan
Overo
Splashed White
Grey
Summary
References
Lesson 16: Appaloosa patterns
Introduction
The inheritance of appaloosa
Finding the LP gene
Congenital stationary night blindness in Appaloosa horses
White pattern appaloosa genes
Varnish or marble
Dark Spotting
White Patterning is modified by alleles at the agouti and extension genes
Summary
References
Module five assignment
Final assignment
Using information from across the course write a report or essay on one aspect of horse
genetics that particularly interests you. This can be a very specific “narrow” topic or a more
wide ranging one. (Please note though that I do not want to read any reports or essays on
the evolution/ creation debate. They are inappropriate for this course.)
Marks will be given for accuracy, and a demonstration that you know and clearly
understand the genetic concepts involved. Diagrams, photos and/or other illustrations can
be included, but aren’t essential (you must own them or otherwise have permission to use
them, and you must reference your sources). You are expected to spend time researching
and editing, probably more time than you actually spend writing. The work should be
thought through, logically organised and carefully checked before you submit it for
marking.
To get full marks you must include examples (or one very detailed example) found outside
of the course material. Examples can be from literature, experience or any other source,
as long as they are appropriate. If you research and expand on an example discussed
more briefly in the course material this will be considered equivalent to an example not
given in the course text. You must reference resources at the end of the report or essay.
You must write everything in your own words unless you are quoting someone (and have
indicated that you are doing so).
The assignment should be concisely written and from 2500 to 4000 words long. Have fun!
(Many suggestions are given for this assignment, for anyone who needs inspiration.)
Other assignments
The other assessments are multi-choice and short answer type questions. They are
structured in a way that requires students not only to review some essential facts, but also
to be able to apply principles to simple, but typical, horse related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding the course, are any textbooks required? If so how much are these likely to be?
No, there are few textbooks on the subject, and they are mostly somewhat (or a lot!) out of
date.
How much reading is required and is this all supplied in the PDF course notes?
Yes. The only time you may need to read around the subject is when you do your final
assessment, which rather depends on what you choose to do. There are now many
papers available on the web, should you need these. Additionally when you get that far
and think you need something you can always ask me first, as I have a lot of digital papers
in the area.
Regarding printing out these notes at home - what sort of volume of pages are we talking
about and are these in colour or black and white?
Black and white mostly - not colour photos, a few diagrams. The printing covers about
280-300 pages in total (it's quite a stack, but you will be doing it spread across 5 modules).
It will help to have internet access for the molecular module, but it isn't essential.