Molekularna genetika tijekom minula dva desetljeća metodološki i aplikativno ušla je u niz ljudskih djelatnosti, a u osobitoj mjeri nalazi primjenu u proizvodnji hrane odnosno animalnoj proizvodnji. Pružajući uvid u strukturu i funkciju genoma i gena, oblikovane genetske karte domaćih životinja i ge-netski markeri postaju oruđe učinkovitije selekcije, unapređenja bitnih proizvodnih svojstava, eliminacije nasljednih bolesti i veće pouzdanosti u selekcijskom radu. Iznalaženje direktnih i indirektnih genetskih markera vezanih za ekonomski bitna proizvodna obilježja domaćih životinja od pri-marnog je interesa animalne molekularne genetike. Ugradnjom odgovarajućih genetskih markera u uzgojne programe omogućeno je biranje uzgojno pogodnih jedinki u ranoj životnoj dobi, neovisno o spolu, konstituciji, fiziološkom statusu i drugim čimbenicima, prije nego što se ekonomski bitna proizvodna svojstva uopće ispolje. Nasljedne bolesti učinkovito se otkrivaju i suzbijaju testovima direktne DNA detekcije greške koda odgovarajućih gena. Osobito je važna mogućnost otkrivanja i izlučivanja heterozigota s nasljednom greškom. Provjera postojanja određenih genskih poremećaja u nekim je slučajevima obaveza nacionalnih uzgojnih programa, te preduvjet pristupu tržištu rasplodnog materijala i animalnih proizvoda. Potvrda rodoslovlja na DNA razini setom visoko polimorfnih genetskih markera daje gotovo potpunu sigurnost u ispravnost podataka odnosno otkriva slučajne ili namjerne greške u vođenju podataka. Valjana potvrda rodoslovlja u provedbi uzgojnih programa i tržišnoj razmjeni uzgojno valjanih i uporabnih grla obaveza je svih koji žele sudjelovati u globalnim tržišnim tokovima. Neizostavna je važnost mole-kularne genetike u konzervaciji animalnih genetskih resursa, budući da daje temeljne spoznaje o originalnosti uzgoja, razini uzgoja u srodstvu, kon-taminiranosti drugim genomima, što je osnova za postavljanje valjanih konzervacijskih uzgojnih programa. Velike su mogućnosti koje molekularna genetika pruža kroz transfer gena i oblikovanje transgenih životinja, premda su u ovom području otvorene mnoge dvojbe oko opravdanosti postupaka i mogućih posljedica manipulacije genima. Genetski markeri učinkovito se koriste u provjeri sukladnosti, kvaliteti i kvantiteti namirnica. Molekularna genetika našla je svoje mjesto u animalnoj proizvodnji, a na nama je odgovornost razumijevanja mogućnosti, prednosti i rizika, te ugradnje u postojeće uzgojne programe u optimalnoj mjeri.During the last two decades, molecular genetics has entered numerous human activities methodologically and applicatively and is particularly used in food manufacturing, i.e. animal production. Giving the insight into the genome structure and function, formed genetic maps of domestic animals, genetic markers have become the tool of a more efficient selection, the promotion of significant production features, elimination of hereditary diseases and higher reliability in selection work. Finding direct and indirect genetic markers connected with economically significant production features of domestic animals has been a primary interest of the animal molecular genetics. By building adequate genetic markers into breeding programmes, the choice of suitable breeding individuals in the early age has been made possible, regardless of the sex, constitution, physiological status and other factors, before these economically significant manufacturing features become apparent. Hereditary diseases are efficiently discovered and treated by tests for direct DNA detection of adequate gene code errors. Particularly important is the possibility of detecting and extracting heterozygotes with a hereditary error. Checking for the existence of certain genetic disturbance is in some cases the obligation of national breeding programmes and a precondition for the access to the market of breeding material and animal products. The confirmation of a pedigree on a DNA level by a set of highly polymorphic genetic markers gives almost absolute certainty of the data correctness, i.e. it discovers accidental or intentional errors in data management. A valid confirmation of a pedigree in carrying out breeding programmes and the market exchange of breeding valid and usable animals is the obligation of all those who want to participate in global market flows. The significance of molecular genetics is unavoidable in the conservation of animal genetic resources since it gives basic ideas about the originality of breeding, the level of breeding in relationship, contamination by other genomes, the basis for establishing valid conservation breeding programmes. Molecular genetics offers great possibilities through a gene transfer and formation of transgene animals, although, in this area there are many doubts about the justification of such procedures and possible consequences of gene manipulation. Genetic markers have been efficiently used in checking the compatibility, quality and quantity of food. Molecular genetics has found its place in the animal production and the responsibility of understanding possibilities, advantages and risks, as well as buildingit in to the existing breeding programmes to the optimum, lies with us
