Glossary

Definitions for terms commonly found on our site

• Allele
  One of several alternative forms of a gene sequence at a specific Locus.
• Alopecia
  A condition where some or all hair is lost from the head and/or other parts of the body.
• Amino Acid
  Organic compounds that combine to form proteins.
• Anemia
  Decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood.
• Ataxia
  The loss of voluntary coordinated movement of the body, indicating an underlying neurologic issue.
• Atrophy
  The partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body, such as the muscles.
• Autosomal Dominant
  A pattern of inheritance where an affected dog has one copy of a gene with a mutation and one normal gene. Offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease-causing gene.
• Autosomal Recessive
  A pattern of inheritance in which an affected dog must have two copies of an abnormal gene to present with the disease or trait.
• Cardiovascular
  A broad category of diseases that affect the heart and/or blood vessels.
• Carrier
  A dog that has only one copy of an abnormal gene for a recessive disease. Carriers do not typically show disease symptoms but can pass on the gene to 
  offspring.
• Cataract
  A clouding of the lens inside the eye that leads to decreased vision.
• Cerebellum
  A structure in the brain known to control voluntary movements of the body.
• Cerebrospinal Fluid
  Clear fluid in the spinal cord and surrounding the brain that acts as a cushion, protecting the brain and spine from injury.
• Chromosome
  An organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells, encoding most or all of a dog's genetic information. Dogs have 78 chromosomes (39 pairs).
• Collagen
  A protein that is the main component of Connective Tissue, including ligaments, tendons, bones, and skin.
• Coloboma
  A keyhole-shaped defect of the eye present from birth.
• Cone Cells
  Photoreceptor cells in the Retina responsible for color vision, especially in bright light.
• Connective Tissue
  A fibrous type of tissue that provides support for other tissues.
• Cryptorchidism
  Failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum.
• Dementia
  Progressive cognitive decline, including memory deficits and decreased responsiveness to stimuli.
• Dominant Modifier
  A gene that alters the expression of another gene, requiring only one copy to influence the trait.
• Electroretinogram
  An eye test that evaluates the function of Rod and Cone cells in the Retina.
• Enzyme
  Complex proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in the body.
• Exon
  The segments of a gene whose sequence is expressed as messenger RNA and usually translated into a protein.
• Glaucoma
  Increased pressure within the eye.
• Haplotype
  A series of alleles found at linked loci on a single Chromosome.
• Hemorrhage
  Excessive bleeding.
• Heterozygous
  Having two different alleles at a particular Locus.
• Homozygous
  Having identical alleles at a particular Locus.
• Hyperparathyroidism
  Over-secretion of the parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid glands.
• Hypocalcemia
  Insufficient amount of calcium in the blood.
• Hypoglycemia
  Low blood sugar.
• Hypomineralization
  Insufficient levels of minerals, typically referring to bones and teeth.
• Hysterectomy
  Removal of a female dog's uterus.
• In Utero
  Before birth; in the uterus.
• Inclusion Bodies
  Aggregates of protein in a cell visible under a microscope.
• Incomplete Penetrance
  When an individual has a Mutation but does not show signs of the disease.
• Locus
  The specific site of a gene on a Chromosome.
• Lysosomal Storage Disorder
  A group of metabolic disorders caused by the absence of a specific Enzyme, leading to abnormal accumulation of substances in the body.
• Melanin
  A natural pigment that gives color to hair, skin, and the iris of the eye.
• Metabolic Acidosis
  Occurs when the body produces too much acid or when the kidneys fail to remove enough acid.
• Mitochondrial Inheritance
  A pattern of inheritance where traits are passed down from the mother through mitochondrial DNA. Male dogs do not pass on mitochondrial diseases.
• Mitochondrion
  A cell organelle responsible for energy production, containing its own DNA (mtDNA).
• Mucous Membrane
  A mucus-secreting tissue lining the mouth, nose, genitals, esophagus, and rectum.
• Multigenic Associative Markers
  Genetic variations in multiple genes associated with a disease or trait but not the direct cause.
• Musculoskeletal
  A broad category of diseases affecting muscles and/or bones.
• Mutation
  A change from the normal form of a gene.
• Myelin
  An insulating layer of protein and fat that surrounds nerves, aiding rapid signal transmission.