Mitochondrial DNA: an important female contribution to thoroughbred racehorse performance.
Abstract: The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule, carrying genes encoding for respiratory chain enzymes, is a primary candidate for demonstrating associations between genotype and athletic performance in mammalian species. In humans, variation at seven protein encoding mitochondrial loci has been implicated in influencing fitness and performance characteristics. Although thoroughbred horses are selected for racing ability, there have not been any previous reported associations between genotypes and racecourse performance. The multi-factorial nature of the inheritance of racing ability is an obvious complicating factor. However, mitochondrial gene variation may represent a measurable component contributing to performance variability. Previous population studies of thoroughbreds have shown the existence of D-loop variation. Importantly, we have observed that there is also independent and extensive functional mitochondrial gene variation in the current thoroughbred racehorse population and that significant associations exist between mtDNA haplotype, as defined by functional genes, and aspects of racing performance.
Publication Date: 2006-03-03 PubMed ID: 16516561DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2006.01.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates and establishes the association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation and the performance of thoroughbred racehorses.
Introduction and Background
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes for enzymes crucial for the respiratory chain, essentially making it a primary candidate for demonstrating the relationship between genotype (an individuals set of genes) and athletic performance.
- In previous studies on humans, certain variations at seven protein encoding mitochondrial loci (positions on a chromosome) were found to influence fitness and performance characteristics.
- In the case of thoroughbred horses, bred specifically for their racing ability, no such associations have been previously reported between genotypes and performance on the racecourse. Considering the multi-factorial nature of the inheritance of racing ability, identifying the genetic foundations of this skill poses significant challenges.
Mitochondrial Gene Variation in Thoroughbred Racehorses
- Despite these challenges, the researchers hypothesize that variation in mitochondrial genes could represent a component that contributes to performance variability in racehorses.
- In earlier population studies of thoroughbreds, a certain level of D-loop variation was observed. The D-loop is a region within the mitochondrial DNA that plays a pivotal role in controlling the replication and expression of the mitochondrial genome.
Findings and Conclusions
- In this study, it was found that there is indeed an extensive, independent functional mitochondrial gene variation in the current thoroughbred racehorse population.
- Furthermore, significant associations were found between the mtDNA haplotype (a combination of genes within an organism that are inherited together from a single parent) determined by functional genes, and certain aspects of racing performance.
- This conclusion provides evidence supporting the idea that mitochondrial DNA and its variations contribute significantly to the performance abilities of thoroughbred racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Harrison SP, Turrion-Gomez JL.
(2006).
Mitochondrial DNA: an important female contribution to thoroughbred racehorse performance.
Mitochondrion, 6(2), 53-63.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2006.01.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd., Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AZ, UK. sph@thoroughbredgenetics.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- Female
- Genes, Mitochondrial
- Genetic Variation
- Haplotypes
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Pedigree
- Phylogeny
- Running
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Engel L, Becker D, Nissen T, Russ I, Thaller G, Krattenmacher N. Mitochondrial DNA Variation Contributes to the Aptitude for Dressage and Show Jumping Ability in the Holstein Horse Breed. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 11;12(6).
- Engel L, Becker D, Nissen T, Russ I, Thaller G, Krattenmacher N. Exploring the Origin and Relatedness of Maternal Lineages Through Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA in the Holstein Horse. Front Genet 2021;12:632500.
- Yoon SH, Lee W, Ahn H, Caetano-Anolles K, Park KD, Kim H. Origin and spread of Thoroughbred racehorses inferred from complete mitochondrial genome sequences: Phylogenomic and Bayesian coalescent perspectives. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0203917.
- Kuhl J, Stock KF, Wulf M, Aurich C. Maternal Lineage of Warmblood Mares Contributes to Variation of Gestation Length and Bias of Foal Sex Ratio. PLoS One 2015;10(10):e0139358.
- Achilli A, Olivieri A, Soares P, Lancioni H, Hooshiar Kashani B, Perego UA, Nergadze SG, Carossa V, Santagostino M, Capomaccio S, Felicetti M, Al-Achkar W, Penedo MC, Verini-Supplizi A, Houshmand M, Woodward SR, Semino O, Silvestrelli M, Giulotto E, Pereira L, Bandelt HJ, Torroni A. Mitochondrial genomes from modern horses reveal the major haplogroups that underwent domestication. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012 Feb 14;109(7):2449-54.
- Bower MA, Campana MG, Whitten M, Edwards CJ, Jones H, Barrett E, Cassidy R, Nisbet RE, Hill EW, Howe CJ, Binns M. The cosmopolitan maternal heritage of the Thoroughbred racehorse breed shows a significant contribution from British and Irish native mares. Biol Lett 2011 Apr 23;7(2):316-20.
- Revold T, Larsen S, Ihler CF. Prediction of early race starts in Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters. Acta Vet Scand 2010 Sep 22;52(1):53.
- Jiang Q, Wei Y, Huang Y, Jiang H, Guo Y, Lan G, Liao J. The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the Debao pony (Equus caballus). Mol Biol Rep 2011 Jan;38(1):593-9.
- Wilson AJ, Rambaut A. Breeding racehorses: what price good genes?. Biol Lett 2008 Apr 23;4(2):173-5.
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