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Molecular tests for coat colours in horses.

Abstract: Colour phenotypes may have played a major role during early domestication events and initial selection among domestic animal species. As coat colours mostly follow a relatively simple mode of Mendelian inheritance, they have been among the first traits to be systematically analysed at the molecular level. As a result of the number of genetic tools developed during the past decade, horse coat colour tests have been designed and are now commercially available for some of the basic phenotypes. These tests enable breeders to verify segregation within particular pedigrees, to select specific colour phenotypes according to market demand or studbook policies and to avoid complex inherited diseases associated with some of the colour patterns. This paper reviews the relevance of the topic, describes all currently available tests for coat colours in horses and addresses also ongoing research in this field.
Publication Date: 2009-11-17 PubMed ID: 19912415DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2009.00832.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article outlines the significance of the role that horse coat colors may have played in early domestication and selection events of domestic animal species. It discusses molecular tests that have been developed to determine these coat colors and how they can be useful for breeders.

Significance of Coat Colors in Domestication

  • The paper begins by emphasizing the importance of horse coat colors during early domestication and initial selection events among domestic animal species. It suggests that these colors, which follow a straightforward mode of Mendelian inheritance, were crucial to breeders during these early stages.

Molecular Tests for Horse Coat Colors

  • Advancements in genetic tools over the past decade have allowed for the development of molecular tests which can identify the genes responsible for different coat colors in horses.
  • These tests are commercially available and can be used to determine the underlying genetics of certain color phenotypes.

Benefits to Breeders

  • Horse breeders can leverage these tests to verify the genetic segregation within specific pedigrees, ensuring that particular coat colors are produced according to market demand or studbook policies.
  • Furthermore, these tests can be used to avoid complex inherited diseases associated with some color patterns. Certain coat colors in horses can be indicative of underlying genetic disorders, and breeders can use these tests to avoid inadvertently selecting for these traits.

Ongoing Research

  • The article concludes by acknowledging the ongoing research in this field. Despite the significant progress that has already been made, there is still much to be learned about the genetics of horse coat colors and how they can be manipulated for the benefit of breeders and the horses themselves.

Cite This Article

APA
Rieder S. (2009). Molecular tests for coat colours in horses. J Anim Breed Genet, 126(6), 415-424. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0388.2009.00832.x

Publication

ISSN: 1439-0388
NlmUniqueID: 100955807
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 126
Issue: 6
Pages: 415-424

Researcher Affiliations

Rieder, Stefan
  • Swiss College of Agriculture, Zollikofen BE, Switzerland. stefan.rieder@bfh.ch

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Hair Color / genetics
  • Horses / genetics
  • Pigments, Biological / genetics

References

This article includes 55 references

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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