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BMC genomics2019; 20(1); 104; doi: 10.1186/s12864-019-5484-9

Exploring the genetics of trotting racing ability in horses using a unique Nordic horse model.

Abstract: Horses have been strongly selected for speed, strength, and endurance-exercise traits since the onset of domestication. As a result, highly specialized horse breeds have developed with many modern horse breeds often representing closed populations with high phenotypic and genetic uniformity. However, a great deal of variation still exists between breeds, making the horse particularly well suited for genetic studies of athleticism. To identify genomic regions associated with athleticism as it pertains to trotting racing ability in the horse, the current study applies a pooled sequence analysis approach using a unique Nordic horse model. Results: Pooled sequence data from three Nordic horse populations were used for F analysis. After strict filtering, F analysis yielded 580 differentiated regions for trotting racing ability. Candidate regions on equine chromosomes 7 and 11 contained the largest number of SNPs (n = 214 and 147, respectively). GO analyses identified multiple genes related to intelligence, energy metabolism, and skeletal development as potential candidate genes. However, only one candidate region for trotting racing ability overlapped a known racing ability QTL. Conclusions: Not unexpected for genomic investigations of complex traits, the current study identified hundreds of candidate regions contributing to trotting racing ability in the horse. Likely resulting from the cumulative effects of many variants across the genome, racing ability continues to demonstrate its polygenic nature with candidate regions implicating genes influencing both musculature and neurological development.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-04 PubMed ID: 30717660PubMed Central: PMC6360714DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5484-9Google 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 study aims to pinpoint genetic factors related to trotting racing ability in horses by analyzing pooled sequence data from three Nordic horse populations. With a focus on 580 differentiated regions and numerous related genes, it demonstrates the polygenic nature of racing ability highlighting the influence of genes related to musculature and neurological development.

Methodology

  • The researchers used a pooled sequence analysis using a unique Nordic horse model with data from three Nordic horse populations.
  • They performed an F analysis on the pooled sequence data. This is a statistical method commonly used in genetics to analyze differences in genetic variance within and between populations.
  • 580 differentiated regions were identified for trotting racing ability after a thorough filtering process.

Results

  • Candidate regions on equine chromosomes 7 and 11 showed the highest number of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), with 214 and 147 respectively. These are variations at a single position in a DNA sequence among individuals.
  • Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were carried out to understand the functions of the genes present in these regions.
  • This identified multiple genes connected to intelligence, energy metabolism, and skeletal development as potential candidate genes for racing ability.
  • However, only one of the candidate regions overlapped with a known racing ability Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), a region of DNA that correlates with variations in a trait.

Conclusion

  • The study identified numerous candidate regions contributing to trotting racing ability in horses, underlining the complex, polygenic nature of this trait.
  • The findings suggest that racing ability is likely due to the cumulative effects of many genetic variants spread throughout the genome.
  • These candidate regions implicated genes affecting both musculature and neurological development as having influence on racing ability.

This study advances our understanding of the complex genetic factors contributing to trotting racing ability in horses, highlighting potential areas for further research and breeding efforts.

Cite This Article

APA
Velie BD, Lillie M, Fegraeus KJ, Rosengren MK, Solé M, Wiklund M, Ihler CF, Strand E, Lindgren G. (2019). Exploring the genetics of trotting racing ability in horses using a unique Nordic horse model. BMC Genomics, 20(1), 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-019-5484-9

Publication

BMC genomics
ISSN: 1471-2164
NlmUniqueID: 100965258
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: 104
PII: 104

Researcher Affiliations

Velie, Brandon D
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. brandon.velie@sydney.edu.au.
  • School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. brandon.velie@sydney.edu.au.
Lillie, Mette
  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Fegraeus, Kim Jäderkvist
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rosengren, Maria K
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Solé, Marina
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Wiklund, Maja
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ihler, Carl-Fredrik
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Strand, Eric
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Lindgren, Gabriella
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Female
  • Genome
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / physiology
  • Intelligence
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Muscle Development
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Running
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Grant Funding

  • 2016-00947 / Svenska Forskningsru00e5det Formas (SE)

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: All experimental procedures and sample collection methods were approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments in Uppsala, Sweden [Number: C 121/14]. Samples used in the study were already available at either the Animal Genetics Laboratory at SLU in Uppsala, Sweden or the Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Oslo, Norway as they previously had been used for parentage testing. Permission to use the samples was granted from the Swedish Trotting Association and the Norwegian Trotting Association (the owners of the samples per the rules/guidelines of the industry). CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors have the following interest: GL is a co-inventor on a granted patent concerning commercial testing of the DMRT3 mutation: A method to predict the pattern of locomotion in horses. PCT EP 12747875.8. European patent registration date: 2011-05-05, US patent registration date: 2011-08-03. There are no further patents, products in development, or marketed products to declare. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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