Genetic diversity of Thoroughbred horse population from Bosnia and Herzegovina based on 17 microsatellite markers.

The research article is a study of the genetic diversity of Thoroughbred (TB) horse populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), ascertained through the examination of 17 different microsatellite markers.

Introduction

• The study is focused on exploring the genetic diversity of Thoroughbred horse populations from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Thoroughbred horses are a specific breed, best known for their use in horse racing.
• To ascertain this diversity, the genomes of these horses were studied using 17 different microsatellite markers. Microsatellites are simple, repeating sequences in the DNA that are used in genetic studies as markers due to their high variability among individuals within a population.

Methods

• In the study, 103 different alleles were identified. Alleles are variations of a gene, and the number indicates the diversity of genes within the population.
• The average number of different alleles per locus (location of a gene) was 6.059 and the effective number of alleles, accounting for their frequency, was 3.293. This shows a relatively high level of genetic diversity within the chosen genes.

Results

• The heterozygosity of the population was calculated, with observed heterozygosity at 0.645 and expected heterozygosity at 0.696. Heterozygosity is a measure of genetic diversity within a population, with higher scores indicating more diversity.
• The polymorphic information content (PIC) value was reported as 0.649, another measure of genetic variability, while the inbreeding coefficient was 0.090. This low inbreeding coefficient suggests that there is not a significant amount of breeding between closely related individuals in this population.
• Of all the loci (plural of locus) studied, ASB2 showed the highest genetic diversity while HMS2 was the least diverse.

Conclusion

• Based on these results, the research study suggests that the Thoroughbred horse population from Bosnia and Herzegovina is not affected by a substantial loss of genetic diversity. In other words, there appears to be a high level of genetic variability within these populations, which is generally considered beneficial for the health and longevity of the population.