Genomics in the Horse Industry: Discovering New Questions at Every Turn.
Abstract: The sheer diversity of heritable physiological traits, and the ingenuity of genome derived research technologies, extends the study of genetics to impact diverse scientific fields. Equine science is no exception, experiencing a number of genome-enabled discoveries that spur further research in areas like nutrition, reproduction, and exercise physiology. Yet unexpected findings, especially those that over-turn commonly held beliefs in the horse industry, can create challenges in outreach, education and communication with stakeholders. For example, studies of ancient DNA revealed that the oldest domesticated equids in the archeological record were in fact another species, the Przewalski's horse, leaving the origins of our modern horses a mystery yet to be solved. Genomic analysis of ancestry can illuminate relationships older than our prized pedigree records, and in some cases, identify unexpected inconsistencies in those pedigrees. Even our interpretation of what constitutes a genetic disease is changing, as we re-examine common disease alleles; how these alleles impact equine physiology, and how they are perceived by breeders and professionals in the industry. Effectively translating genetic tools for utilization in horse management and preparing our community for the debate surrounding ethical questions that may arise from genomic studies, may be the next great challenges we face as scientists and educators.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2021-03-26 PubMed ID: 34030792DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103456Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper explores how genomic research impacts equine science, bringing both groundbreaking discoveries and unexpected challenges. It dives into the effect of this research on aspects such as nutrition, reproduction, exercise physiology and our understanding of genetic diseases in horses, while also highlighting the issues it has raised in terms of education and communication with industry stakeholders.
Genomics and Equine Science
- Genomics, or the study of all of a person’s genes (the genome), is changing various scientific fields, including equine science.
- Through genome-enabled discoveries, researchers are gaining new insights into aspects such as horses’ nutrition, reproduction, and exercise physiology.
- However, these advancements are not without their challenges. Some findings contradict widely accepted beliefs in the horse industry, making it difficult to educate and communicate these new insights with stakeholders.
Revelations from Ancient DNA
- One major discovery that genomics has led to is the fact that some of the oldest domesticated equids (members of the horse family) were actually another species, called the Przewalski’s horse. This finding has stirred up questions about the origins of modern horses.
- Additionally, genomic analysis can reveal ancestral relationships that go beyond well-kept pedigree records. However, this can also lead to surprising inconsistencies in the pedigree records that the horse industry often relies on.
Expanding the Understanding of Genetic Diseases
- Genomics is causing researchers to rethink their understanding of genetic diseases in horses. More specifically, they are looking at common disease alleles (variations of a gene) and examining how they affect equine physiology.
- This new perspective on genetic diseases can change how breeders and industry professionals handle and perceive these diseases.
Future Challenges in Genomics and Equine Science
- The research paper suggests that the next major challenges in genomics and equine science have to do with integrating genetic tools into horse management practices, and preparing for ethical debates that might come up due to genomic studies.
- It will be important to find effective ways to translate these scientific insights into practical applications for the horse industry.
Cite This Article
APA
Brooks SA.
(2021).
Genomics in the Horse Industry: Discovering New Questions at Every Turn.
J Equine Vet Sci, 100, 103456.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103456 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences and the UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville Fl. Electronic address: samantha.brooks@ufl.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- DNA, Ancient
- Genome
- Genomics
- Horses / genetics
- Pedigree
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Cardinali I, Giontella A, Tommasi A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. Unlocking Horse Y Chromosome Diversity. Genes (Basel) 2022 Dec 2;13(12).
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