Glossary of Terms


Autosomal: Phenotypic trait or gene NOT associated with either the X or Y sex chromosome; i.e., not sex-linked.

Congenital: Existing at or before birth resulting from hereditary or environmental influences.

Genome: Complete set of chromosomes carried in a cell.

Gibbs sampling: Method of calculating the genetic merit of dogs that takes advantage of fast computers. The process itself is just a computer-based method for integrating a function without having to find the antiderivative.

Idiopathic: Arising spontaneously with no obvious external cause (e.g., genetic as opposed to trauma-induced).

Locus (plural - loci): Site or position on a chromosome where a particular gene or DNA sequence resides. Often used interchangeably with the term 'gene', but locus is more generic.

Microsatellite: As used here, a region of the DNA that can be consistently identified, using a laboratory procedure, across all individuals in a single breed. Microsatellites themselves are repetitive DNA sequences that are randomly distributed throughout the mammalian genome, tend to be highly polymorphic, and are short DNA segments.

Polygenic: Phenotypic trait whose expression is controlled by, or associated with, more than one gene.

Polymorphic: Presence of several common, alternate forms of a genetic characteristic in a population.

Recessive: Trait that requires two mutant copies of the gene (i.e., alleles) in order for the disorder to be expressed; must be homozygous for the mutant allele.