Peter Leegwater is a scientist at the research lab of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals. He investigates the molecular background of inherited diseases of purebred dogs. He is interested in the similarities and differences of the function of genes between species. Purebred dogs are an important model for the elucidation of the causes of complex diseases. Comparison of the DNA of affected animals with that of healthy animals leads to the identification of the causative genes.