Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pedigree Analysis

Pedigree Analysis

Epistasis

Epistasis

In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Development and validation of a cephalic conformation scoring system for the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

Sentience in cephalopod molluscs: an updated assessment.

Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·2026

Same author

Rabbit conformational predispositions to ear abnormalities: Field study of a pedigree population.

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2025

Same author

Rat boredom-like behaviour in a monotonous versus a varied foraging task: effects of sensory variation.

Animal cognition·2025

Same author

DETERMINATION OF SYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE, CREATININE, AND BLOOD UREA NITROGEN REFERENCE INTERVALS IN AFRICAN WILD DOGS (<i>LYCAON PICTUS</i>) IN MANAGED CARE FROM TWO ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·2025

Same author

Animal welfare risks from commercial practices involving cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans.

Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2025

Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials

Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials

Published on: August 13, 2019

Rabbit Dental Abnormalities: Investigation of Conformational Risk Factors in a Pedigree Rabbit Population.

Maria A Jackson¹, Michaela Betts¹, Joanna Hedley²

¹Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK.

Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI

|April 12, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Rabbit conformation, including lop ears and brachycephaly, showed minimal links to dental issues in pedigree rabbits. Husbandry factors are more critical for preventing rabbit dental disease than physical traits.

Keywords:

Oryctolagus cuniculus animal welfare conformation risk factors selective breeding teeth

More Related Videos

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

A Reproducible Cartilage Impact Model to Generate Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in the Rabbit

A Reproducible Cartilage Impact Model to Generate Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in the Rabbit

Published on: November 21, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2025

Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials

Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials

Published on: August 13, 2019

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

A Reproducible Cartilage Impact Model to Generate Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in the Rabbit

A Reproducible Cartilage Impact Model to Generate Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in the Rabbit

Published on: November 21, 2023

Area of Science:

Veterinary Science
Animal Genetics
Comparative Anatomy

Background:

Dental abnormalities are frequently observed in pet rabbits.
Previous studies inconsistently linked lop-eared and brachycephalic (short-faced) conformations to dental disease.
A need existed to investigate these links in a controlled pedigree population.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify conformational risk factors for dental abnormalities in pedigree rabbits.
To analyze the association between ear carriage (lop vs. erect) and head shape (brachycephalic, dolichocephalic) and dental health.

Main Methods:

Otoscopic oral examinations were conducted on 435 pedigree rabbits.
Multivariable models analyzed 14 potential dental disease signs.
Risk factor analysis included conformational traits and signalment data.

Main Results:

Most rabbits had normal incisors (68.28%) and cheek teeth (55.40%).
Lop-eared rabbits had increased odds of ocular discharge, not dental issues.
Dolichocephalic rabbits showed higher odds of specific cheek teeth abnormalities (step/wave mouth).
Brachycephaly was not associated with increased dental abnormalities.

Conclusions:

Conformation is a less significant factor in rabbit dental disease than husbandry.
Brachycephaly does not predispose rabbits to dental abnormalities.
The clinical significance of ocular discharge in lop-eared rabbits requires further investigation.
Results from this pedigree population may not generalize to companion rabbits due to differing husbandry and population dynamics.