This week on Genome Barks, we welcome Dr. Matthew Ellinwood, Assistant Professor of Companion Animal Genomics at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.  Genetic diseases can have devastating impact on an animal’s health and well being.  In the case of a genetic disease within a breed or within the breeding program of a dog breeder genetic diseases can be crippling to genetic progress.  In this podcast, Dr. Ellinwood defines the term genetic disease, discusses the avenues taken to eliminate genetic disease, and provides basic recommendations to breeders who are faced with genetic diseases in their breeds.

Dr. Matthew Ellinwood received both his DVM and PhD from Colorado State University.  An Assistant Professor of Companion Animal Genomics at Iowa State University, he has focused his research on genetic diseases of both dogs and cats.  Dr. Ellinwood is a member of the Large Munsterlader Club of North America and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association.  He has 28 years experience breeding, training, hunting over, and testing field trial Labradors and Large Munsterlanders.