Genetic differentiation associated with gait within American standardbred horses.
Abstract: American Standardbred horses are divided into two groups based upon gait: the trot and the pace. The tendency to trot (diagonally opposite legs moving forward together) or pace (the two legs on the same side of the body moving forward together) appears to be genetically determined, although no formal genetic analysis has been undertaken. There is nearly complete assortative mating for gait; however, about 20% of the offspring sired by trotters are registered as pacers, while fewer than 1% of those sired by pacers are registered as trotters. Electrophoretically detectable genic variation at 13 protein loci has been analysed for 371 trotters and 856 pacers, and 10 blood group loci have been examined for 600 trotters and 1227 pacers. Trotters and pacers shared common alleles at 20 of the 23 loci; however, there were significant differences in allele frequencies at 21 of the 23 loci. Highly significant fixation indices (FSTS) were observed for 17 of the loci. The extent of genetic difference between Standardbred trotters and pacers was as great as or greater than that seen between some distinct horse breeds.
Publication Date: 1987-01-01 PubMed ID: 3481678DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1987.tb00772.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research focuses on the genetic variations between American Standardbred horses that trot and those that pace. It details a significant difference in allele frequencies and genetic differentiation between trotters and pacers, comparable to distinct horse breeds.
Research Background
- This research is predicated on the distinction between two gait groups in American Standardbred horses: trotters and pacers. The trotting gait involves moving diagonally opposite legs in unison, while the pacing gait is characterized by moving the two legs on the same side of the body simultaneously.
- The inclination to trot or pace appears to be genetically influenced, with around 20% of offspring sired by trotting horses registered as pacers, and less than 1% of those sired by pacing horses registered as trotters.
- The study marks the first comprehensive genetic analysis conducted to assess these differences.
Methodology and Findings
- The study analyzed genic variation at 13 protein loci in 371 trotters and 856 pacers. In addition, 10 blood group loci were examined in 600 trotters and 1227 pacers.
- The analysis found that trotters and pacers shared common alleles at 20 of the 23 loci studied. However, there were significant differences in the allele frequencies at 21 of the 23 loci.
- Highly significant FST (fixation index) values were observed at 17 of the loci, indicating substantial genetic differentiation between the two groups.
Conclusions
- This evidence demonstrates a distinct genetic difference between Standardbred trotters and pacers, which is as considerable as the differentiation observed between separate horse breeds.
- These findings may bear significant implications for breeding and training techniques within the field of horse racing. Acknowledging the inherent genetic disposition of a horse towards a particular gait could influence decisions regarding optimal training methods and mating choices to enhance performance and racing success.
Cite This Article
APA
Cothran EG, MacCluer JW, Weitkamp LR, Bailey E.
(1987).
Genetic differentiation associated with gait within American standardbred horses.
Anim Genet, 18(4), 285-296.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.1987.tb00772.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas.
MeSH Terms
- Alleles
- Animals
- Female
- Gait
- Gene Frequency
- Genetic Markers
- Genetic Variation
- Horses / genetics
- Male
Grant Funding
- R01 HD 14487 / NICHD NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Bukhari SSUH, Parkes RSV. Assessing the impact of draught load pulling on welfare in equids.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1214015.
- Friocourt G, Perrin A, Saunders PA, Nikalayevich E, Voisset C, Coutton C, Martinez G, Morel F. Bypassing Mendel's First Law: Transmission Ratio Distortion in Mammals.. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Jan 13;24(2).
- Esdaile E, Avila F, Bellone RR. Analysis of Genetic Diversity in the American Standardbred Horse Utilizing Short Tandem Repeats and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.. J Hered 2022 Jul 9;113(3):238-247.
- Ricard A, Duluard A. Genomic analysis of gaits and racing performance of the French trotter.. J Anim Breed Genet 2021 Mar;138(2):204-222.
- McCoy AM, Beeson SK, Rubin CJ, Andersson L, Caputo P, Lykkjen S, Moore A, Piercy RJ, Mickelson JR, McCue ME. Identification and validation of genetic variants predictive of gait in standardbred horses.. PLoS Genet 2019 May;15(5):e1008146.
- Petersen JL, Mickelson JR, Cothran EG, Andersson LS, Axelsson J, Bailey E, Bannasch D, Binns MM, Borges AS, Brama P, da Câmara Machado A, Distl O, Felicetti M, Fox-Clipsham L, Graves KT, Guérin G, Haase B, Hasegawa T, Hemmann K, Hill EW, Leeb T, Lindgren G, Lohi H, Lopes MS, McGivney BA, Mikko S, Orr N, Penedo MC, Piercy RJ, Raekallio M, Rieder S, Røed KH, Silvestrelli M, Swinburne J, Tozaki T, Vaudin M, M Wade C, McCue ME. Genetic diversity in the modern horse illustrated from genome-wide SNP data.. PLoS One 2013;8(1):e54997.
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