Genetics for Cat Breeders (International Series in Pure and Applied Biology. Division:)

Rating:
Summary: Yes, this is 'THE' cat genetics book :)
Review: There are cat breeders, and there are Cat Breeders! If litter constantly crumbles off your shoes, and you don't 'know' a cat until you've seen its' pedigree, you're a Cat Nerd :] Mastering Robinson's book will be your last 'final' to achieving Grand Champion Cat Nerd status! I must admit to a personal bias in favor of this book as I enjoy combing apart a puzzling test cross as much as playing with kittens! This is one *serious* book! As with most things genetic, Robinson has generated considerable controversy with certain of his assertions and conclusions, but this is without a doubt 'The Merk' for serious cat breeders. His work begins with a quick refresher for those in need. But frankly, if you're an 'old timer' who has never pulled at least a B in a full-blown 300 level Mendelian genetics course, you'll be in over your head by page five. There are separate sections addressing individual breeds and type, providing much of the information you've always wondered about. With this book as a foundation you can move your breeding program into the realm of testable objective research. You'll know how to determine, for example, if a particular coat pattern results from the heterozygotic interaction of codominant alleles, from the presence of an unlinked modifier gene, or if you really have a new dominant mutant. Ooooooh!!! With this book you will evolve an analytical eye, enabling you to extract meaningful details from the haphazard work of hobby breeders - a great time saving resource for a serious breeder. Are you working with a clear goal in mind, or just putting cats together? The good news: this is an advanced text for a rare few :) The bad news: this is an advanced text for a rare few :( If you've found this review, have read the book, and would like to indulge in some technical prose with a fellow Cat Nerd, please write - it's lonely out here! Michael Olsen, CallisteCats Birmans

Rating:
Summary: Yes, this is 'THE' cat genetics book :)
Review: There are cat breeders, and there are Cat Breeders! If litter constantly crumbles off your shoes, and you don't 'know' a cat until you've seen its' pedigree, you're a Cat Nerd :] Mastering Robinson's book will be your last 'final' to achieving Grand Champion Cat Nerd status! I must admit to a personal bias in favor of this book as I enjoy combing apart a puzzling test cross as much as playing with kittens! This is one *serious* book! As with most things genetic, Robinson has generated considerable controversy with certain of his assertions and conclusions, but this is without a doubt 'The Merk' for serious cat breeders. His work begins with a quick refresher for those in need. But frankly, if you're an 'old timer' who has never pulled at least a B in a full-blown 300 level Mendelian genetics course, you'll be in over your head by page five. There are separate sections addressing individual breeds and type, providing much of the information you've always wondered about. With this book as a foundation you can move your breeding program into the realm of testable objective research. You'll know how to determine, for example, if a particular coat pattern results from the heterozygotic interaction of codominant alleles, from the presence of an unlinked modifier gene, or if you really have a new dominant mutant. Ooooooh!!! With this book you will evolve an analytical eye, enabling you to extract meaningful details from the haphazard work of hobby breeders - a great time saving resource for a serious breeder. Are you working with a clear goal in mind, or just putting cats together? The good news: this is an advanced text for a rare few :) The bad news: this is an advanced text for a rare few :( If you've found this review, have read the book, and would like to indulge in some technical prose with a fellow Cat Nerd, please write - it's lonely out here! Michael Olsen, CallisteCats Birmans