Molecular tests for coat colours in horses.

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.