Genetic diversity among horse populations with a special focus on the Franches-Montagnes breed.
Abstract: Genetic characterization helps to assure breed integrity and to assign individuals to defined populations. The objective of this study was to characterize genetic diversity in six horse breeds and to analyse the population structure of the Franches-Montagnes breed, especially with regard to the degree of introgression with Warmblood. A total of 402 alleles from 50 microsatellite loci were used. The average number of alleles per locus was significantly lower in Thoroughbreds and Arabians. Average heterozygosities between breeds ranged from 0.61 to 0.72. The overall average of the coefficient of gene differentiation because of breed differences was 0.100, with a range of 0.036-0.263. No significant correlation was found between this parameter and the number of alleles per locus. An increase in the number of homozygous loci with increasing inbreeding could not be shown for the Franches-Montagnes horses. The proportion of shared alleles, combined with the neighbour-joining method, defined clusters for Icelandic Horse, Comtois, Arabians and Franches-Montagnes. A more disparate clustering could be seen for European Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, presumably from frequent grading-up of Warmbloods with Thoroughbreds. Grading-up effects were also observed when Bayesian and Monte Carlo resampling approaches were used for individual assignment to a given population. Individual breed assignments to defined reference populations will be very difficult when introgression has occurred. The Bayesian approach within the Franches-Montagnes breed differentiated individuals with varied proportions of Warmblood.
Publication Date: 2006-01-31 PubMed ID: 16441293DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01376.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research sought to identify the levels of genetic diversity among six horse breeds, with a particular focus on the Franches-Montagnes breed, using analysis of 402 alleles from 50 microsatellite loci.
Understanding Genetic Diversity in Horse Breeds
- The study focused on understanding the genetic make-up and diversity of six distinct horse breeds.
- Researchers collected 402 alleles from 50 different genetic markers, known as microsatellite loci, from the horses.
- Importantly, the average number of alleles per genetic marker was notably lower in Thoroughbred and Arabian horses compared to other breeds examined.
differences among horse breeds
- Differentiation among the horse breeds was evaluated, with average heterozygosity (genetic variation) found to vary between 0.61 to 0.72 across the breeds.
- The overall coefficient of gene differentiation due to breed differences was 0.100, with a range from 0.036 to 0.263.
- No significant correlation was observed between the degree of gene differentiation and the number of alleles per microsatellite.
Breed Specific Findings: Franches-Montagnes Horses
- For the Franches-Montagnes breed, researchers could not establish any increase in the number of homozygous (identical) genetic markers with increasing inbreeding.
- Moreover, the research also aimed to explore the degree of interbreeding between Franches-Montagnes and Warmblood horses.
Cluster Analysis and Introgression
- The investigation established clusters for the Icelandic Horse, Comtois, Arabians, and Franches-Montagnes breeds based on shared alleles and the neighbor-joining method.
- However, European Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds demonstrated more disparate clustering, presumably due to frequent interbreeding or “grading-up” of Warmbloods with Thoroughbreds.
- Grading-up effects were also observed using Bayesian and Monte Carlo resampling approaches for individual assignment to a population.
- Whenever an introgression (transfer of genetic information from one species to another) occurred, it posed a challenge in assigning individual breeds to defined reference populations.
Breed Specific Findings: Warmblood Proportions within Franches-Montagnes
- Using a Bayesian approach, the study differentiated individuals within the Franches-Montagnes breed based on their varied proportions of Warmblood lineage.
- This highlights the influence and presence of Warmblood genetics within the Franches-Montagnes breed.
Cite This Article
APA
Glowatzki-Mullis ML, Muntwyler J, Pfister W, Marti E, Rieder S, Poncet PA, Gaillard C.
(2006).
Genetic diversity among horse populations with a special focus on the Franches-Montagnes breed.
Anim Genet, 37(1), 33-39.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01376.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Genetics, Nutrition and Housing, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, CH-3001 Berne, Switzerland. marie-louise.glowatzki@itz.unibe.ch
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bayes Theorem
- Cluster Analysis
- Gene Frequency
- Genetic Variation
- Genetics, Population
- Heterozygote
- Horses / genetics
- Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
- Species Specificity
Citations
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