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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / A genome-wide association study for body weight in Japanese ...
Journal of equine science2017; 28(4); 127-134; doi: 10.1294/jes.28.127

A genome-wide association study for body weight in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses clarifies candidate regions on chromosomes 3, 9, 15, and 18.

Abstract: Body weight is an important trait to confirm growth and development in humans and animals. In Thoroughbred racehorses, it is measured in the postnatal, training, and racing periods to evaluate growth and training degrees. The body weight of mature Thoroughbred racehorses generally ranges from 400 to 600 kg, and this broad range is likely influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Therefore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the Equine SNP70 BeadChip was performed to identify the genomic regions associated with body weight in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses using 851 individuals. The average body weight of these horses was 473.9 kg (standard deviation: 28.0) at the age of 3, and GWAS identified statistically significant SNPs on chromosomes 3 (BIEC2_808466, P=2.32E-14), 9 (BIEC2_1105503, P=1.03E-7), 15 (BIEC2_322669, P=9.50E-6), and 18 (BIEC2_417274, P=1.44E-14), which were associated with body weight as a quantitative trait. The genomic regions on chromosomes 3, 9, 15, and 18 included ligand-dependent nuclear receptor compressor-like protein (LCORL), zinc finger and AT hook domain containing (ZFAT), tribbles pseudokinase 2 (TRIB2), and myostatin (MSTN), respectively, as candidate genes. LCORL and ZFAT are associated with withers height in horses, whereas MSTN affects muscle mass. Thus, the genomic regions identified in this study seem to affect the body weight of Thoroughbred racehorses. Although this information is useful for breeding and growth management of the horses, the production of genetically modified animals and gene doping (abuse/misuse of gene therapy) should be prohibited to maintain horse racing integrity.
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Publication Date: 2017-12-16 PubMed ID: 29270069PubMed Central: PMC5735309DOI: 10.1294/jes.28.127Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates the relationship between genetic factors and body weight in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses, identifying four specific chromosomes linked to body weight.

Objective and Approach

  • The aim of the study was to identify the genomic regions that play a significant role in determining the body weight of Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses.
  • To achieve this, a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted on 851 individual horses.
  • The study used the Equine SNP70 BeadChip, a tool commonly used for equine genetic research, to facilitate this expansive genetic exploration.

Results

  • The average body weight of the horses studied was found to be 473.9 kg at the age of three, with a standard deviation of 28.0.
  • The association study identified significant Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), which are variations at a single position in a DNA sequence, on four chromosomes: 3, 9, 15, and 18.
  • These significant SNPs were associated with body weight as a quantitative trait, suggesting that these genetic markers play a key role in determining body weight in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Candidate Genes

  • The identified genomic regions on the four chromosomes included the genes LCORL, ZFAT, TRIB2, and MSTN. These are considered as candidate genes that are likely to influence body weight in horses.
  • Previous studies have highlighted that LCORL and ZFAT are associated with the withers height in horses, while MSTN affects muscle mass. As such, the identified genomic regions in this study appear to have a significant impact on horse body weight.

Relevance and Implications

  • The information obtained from this study is beneficial not only for understanding the genetic basis of body weight but also for managing the breeding and growth of Thoroughbred racehorses.
  • However, the authors caution against misuse of this genetic information in practices such as the production of genetically modified animals or gene doping, as such practices could disrupt the integrity of horse racing.

Cite This Article

APA
Tozaki T, Kikuchi M, Kakoi H, Hirota KI, Nagata SI. (2017). A genome-wide association study for body weight in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses clarifies candidate regions on chromosomes 3, 9, 15, and 18. J Equine Sci, 28(4), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.28.127

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 4
Pages: 127-134

Researcher Affiliations

Tozaki, Teruaki
  • Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.
Kikuchi, Mio
  • Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.
Kakoi, Hironaga
  • Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.
Hirota, Kei-Ichi
  • Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.
Nagata, Shun-Ichi
  • Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.

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