Genetics in Domestic Animal Reproduction

Abstract

Reproduction and early development in domestic animals are biological processes in which complex genetic events like formation of the germ cells, meiosis, syngamy, zygote formation, cleavage, midblastula transition, dose compensation of sex chromosomes, genetic imprinting, and multiple cell diferentiation take place. Many of these processes have great impact in veterinary reproductive medicine and are inluenced by the assisted reproductive techniques applied. Altered environmental and metabolic conditions caused by intensive livestock farming inluence reproductive success by altered gene expression via epigenetic changes.