DNA and genes on Shade work similarly to those in our world.
It also means a slightly higher rate of pregnancy failures, though these generally occur at a clump-of-cells stage, long before the woman knows she's pregnant.
The Five Races, though from common genetic stock originally, cannot interbreed. Genetic tests prove that the closest related are trolls and goblins.
Domestic animals have been selectively bred virtually since the inception of livestock husbandry.
One famous case of genetic manipulation occurs during the Great War, orchestrated by outside forces not native to Shade. Magotechnology on Shade is nowhere near sophisticated enough at this point to have engineered anything on this sort of scale.
A century or two after the Twine Wars period, Shade develops magotechnological methods of manipulating genetic material at or around conception. Gene therapy in children and adults is also understood and employed but the results are nonheritable.
Following on the traditions of selective breeding, animals classed as domestic have been genetically altered. Strict welfare (and consent, where appropriate) laws are in place. These are more thorough, and more thoroughly upheld, than on most known worlds with this technology. This stems from Shade's trademark holding of animals in unusually high regard.
Wild-classified animal species may not be selectively bred or genetically tampered, except in extraordinary circumstances threatening the species' survival.
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