The Journal of heredity2008; 99(2); 130-136; doi: 10.1093/jhered/esm115

Genetic analysis of white facial and leg markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes Horse Breed.

Abstract: White markings and spotting patterns in animal species are thought to be a result of the domestication process. They often serve for the identification of individuals but sometimes are accompanied by complex pathological syndromes. In the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse population, white markings increased vastly in size and occurrence during the past 30 years, although the breeding goal demands a horse with as little depigmented areas as possible. In order to improve selection and avoid more excessive depigmentation on the population level, we estimated population parameters and breeding values for white head and anterior and posterior leg markings. Heritabilities and genetic correlations for the traits were high (h(2) > 0.5). A strong positive correlation was found between the chestnut allele at the melanocortin-1-receptor gene locus and the extent of white markings. Segregation analysis revealed that our data fit best to a model including a polygenic effect and a biallelic locus with a dominant-recessive mode of inheritance. The recessive allele was found to be the white trait-increasing allele. Multilocus linkage disequilibrium analysis allowed the mapping of the putative major locus to a chromosomal region on ECA3q harboring the KIT gene.
Publication Date: 2008-02-21 PubMed ID: 18296388DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esm115Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This research paper investigates the cause of increasing size and occurrence of white markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse breed over the last three decades. The study estimated parameters and breeding values for white markings on the head and legs, and found a strong positive correlation between a chestnut allele and the extent of white markings. They also hypothesized a dominant-recessive mode of inheritance related to a locus on chromosome ECA3q where the KIT gene resides.

Objective of the Research

  • This research was conducted to understand the rapid increase in white markings on the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse breed over the past 30 years, despite breeding goals that aim to minimize these depigmented areas.
  • The researchers sought to estimate population parameters and breeding values for white markings on the horse’s head and legs, assess genetic correlations and heritabilities for these traits, and find potential genetic causes.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found a high heritability for white markings (i.e., they were highly influenced by genetic factors).
  • There was a strong positive correlation between the chestnut allele at the melanocortin-1-receptor gene locus and the extent of white markings, suggesting a genetic link.
  • It was also discovered that the data best fit a model that includes a polygenic effect and a biallelic locus (two-allele genetic locus) with a dominant-recessive mode of inheritance. This means that the presence of white markings may be controlled by more than one gene, and the inheritance pattern suggests that one form of the gene is dominant over the other.
  • The recessive allele was found to be the one that increased the trait of white markings, meaning that when this allele is present in a pair, white markings are more likely.
  • The research further managed to map the putative major gene locus responsible for white markings to a chromosomal region on ECA3q. This region harbors the KIT gene, suggesting that this gene might be involved in the development of white markings in these horses.

Implications of the Research

  • This research is valuable as it provides genetic insights that can help manage and control the occurrence of white markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse breed. This is particularly useful as the breeding goals desire as few of these depigmented areas as possible.
  • The research findings can guide breeding strategies to reduce the occurrence of white markings based on the identified relations and genetic correlations.
  • Further research can build upon these findings to investigate the exact roles of the identified genes and possibly uncover more details of the genetic mechanisms behind this trait.

Cite This Article

APA
Rieder S, Hagger C, Obexer-Ruff G, Leeb T, Poncet PA. (2008). Genetic analysis of white facial and leg markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes Horse Breed. J Hered, 99(2), 130-136. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esm115

Publication

ISSN: 1465-7333
NlmUniqueID: 0375373
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 99
Issue: 2
Pages: 130-136

Researcher Affiliations

Rieder, Stefan
  • Swiss College of Agriculture, Lu00e4nggasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen BE, Switzerland. stefan.rieder@shl.bfh.ch
Hagger, Christian
    Obexer-Ruff, Gabriela
      Leeb, Tosso
        Poncet, Pierre-Andru00e9

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Chromosome Mapping / veterinary
          • Genotype
          • Horses / genetics
          • Phenotype
          • Pigmentation / genetics

          Citations

          This article has been cited 5 times.
          1. Perdomo-Gonzu00e1lez DI, Garcu00eda de Paredes RLA, Valera M, Bartolomu00e9 E, Gu00f3mez MD. Morpho-Functional Traits in Pura Raza Menorquina Horses: Genetic Parameters and Relationship with Coat Color Variables.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 7;12(18).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12182319pubmed: 36139184google scholar: lookup
          2. Patterson Rosa L, Martin K, Vierra M, Lundquist E, Foster G, Brooks SA, Lafayette C. A KIT Variant Associated with Increased White Spotting Epistatic to MC1R Genotype in Horses (Equus caballus).. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 2;12(15).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12151958pubmed: 35953947google scholar: lookup
          3. Druml T, Grilz-Seger G, Neuditschko M, Horna M, Ricard A, Pausch H, Brem G. Novel insights into Sabino1 and splashed white coat color patterns in horses.. Anim Genet 2018 Jun;49(3):249-253.
            doi: 10.1111/age.12657pubmed: 29635692google scholar: lookup
          4. Haase B, Signer-Hasler H, Binns MM, Obexer-Ruff G, Hauswirth R, Bellone RR, Burger D, Rieder S, Wade CM, Leeb T. Accumulating mutations in series of haplotypes at the KIT and MITF loci are major determinants of white markings in Franches-Montagnes horses.. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e75071.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075071pubmed: 24098679google scholar: lookup
          5. Hauswirth R, Haase B, Blatter M, Brooks SA, Burger D, Dru00f6gemu00fcller C, Gerber V, Henke D, Janda J, Jude R, Magdesian KG, Matthews JM, Poncet PA, Svansson V, Tozaki T, Wilkinson-White L, Penedo MC, Rieder S, Leeb T. Mutations in MITF and PAX3 cause "splashed white" and other white spotting phenotypes in horses.. PLoS Genet 2012;8(4):e1002653.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002653pubmed: 22511888google scholar: lookup