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 inheritanceWhat is Horse Genetics?

Horse genetics is the science of heredity as applied to horses

Lesson one: Genes, alleles and chromosomesIntroductionGenes are the units of heredity Genes occur in different forms called allelesEach gene is represented twice in any particular individualGenes are organised on chromosomesChromosomes occur in pairsThe sex chromosomes are non-homologousA few genes are not in the cell nucleusSummaryReferences

Lesson two: Inheritance and reproduction in the horseIntroductionAn introduction to inheritance and reproduction in the horseGenes, alleles, chromosomes and inheritanceThe curly coat genes: an example of some important conceptsSummary

Lesson three: Mendelian inheritanceMendel’s First Law of SegregationConsidering two characters at onceHow many foals would I need to get a certain phenotype?Summary

Module one assignment

Module Two: modified and complex inheritance

Lesson four: Modified RatiosIntroductionPartial dominanceCo-dominanceLethal allelesLethal White OveroEpistasisPenetrance and expressivitySummaryReference

Lesson five: Genetic LinkageIntroductionLinkage and the gene for equine combined immune deficiency disorderPartial Linkageexample of partial linkageSex Linkage

SummaryReferences

Lesson six: Complex Traits and Polygenic InheritanceIntroductionContinuous TraitsDescribing the variation for a quantitative traitContinuous Traits are PolygenicHow can quantitative genetics be useful to horse-breeders?Running Speed in Race Horses Personality traits, and their possible connections with colour and pattern SummaryReferences

Module two assignment

Module three: Equine Molecular GeneticsLesson seven - An introduction to molecular geneticsIntroductionThe structure of DNADNA and chromosome structure Genes and proteinsThe genetic codeWhat is a gene?Redundant DNAThe Horse GenomeSummary

Lesson eight - Finding and characterising genes for a particular phenotypeIntroductionPhysical mapping of the equine SCID gene Heterohybridoma panelsFluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH)Comparative mappingReplicating DNA in a tubeDNA microarrays and chipsSummaryReferences

Lesson nine - molecular genetics testingIntroductionImpressive: a tale of triumph and tragedyGenetic TestingAllele specific PCR: genetic testing the modern wayLinkage testingPyroSequencing DNA microarrays and chips

FingerprintingExample of fingerprinting: conservation of the Przewalski horseSummaryReferences

Module three assignment

Module four: Evolution and Natural Selection

Lesson 10: EvolutionIntroductionEvolution doesn’t have goalsThe Forces of Evolution MutationSelectionGenetic driftInbreedingMigration Summary

Lesson 11: Breeding SystemsIntroductionPedigrees and the influence of ancestorsInbreeding and homozygosityLinebreeding The dangers of inbreedingInbreeding with selectionOutbreedingIs genetic variation always a good thing?Do some sires consistently stamp their own likeness on their foals?Molecular genetic tests to help breedersDNA test can detect carriers so that they don‘t pass it on to other horses.SummaryReferences

Lesson 12: Domestication and ancient breedsIntroduction Early DomesticationAre domestic horses descended from one type of wild horse?North European BreedsIberian and North African HorsesCaspian HorsesMolecular Evidence of the Y chromosomeSummaryReferences

Module four assignment

Module five: The Genetics of Coat Colours and Patterns

Module Introduction

Lesson 13: Basic colour geneticsIntroductionWhat influences colour?Melanocytes and developmentMelanin pigmentsThe importance of tyrosinase, and it’s affect on pigment dilutionThe base coloursThe brown locusThe extension locusThe agouti locus"Does the agouti locus have only two alleles?" and other mysteriesJeanette Gower’s modelThe molecular mechanisms of the extension and agouti genes in horsesSummaryReferences

Lesson 14: Dilute coloursIntroductionThe cream dilution genePalominoThe dun locusThe Champagne GeneThe Silver GenePearl and Barlink FactorSummaryReferences

Lesson 15: White and white patternsIntroductionDominant white and the importance of the KIT geneSabinoTobianoRoanOveroSplashed WhiteGreySummaryReferences

Lesson 16: Appaloosa patternsIntroductionThe inheritance of appaloosaFinding the LP geneCongenital stationary night blindness in Appaloosa horses

White pattern appaloosa genesVarnish or marbleDark SpottingWhite Patterning is modified by alleles at the agouti and extension genesSummaryReferences

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.