Multiple Genes Related to Muscle Identified through a Joint Analysis of a Two-stage Genome-wide Association Study for Racing Performance of 1,156 Thoroughbreds.
Abstract: Thoroughbred, a relatively recent horse breed, is best known for its use in horse racing. Although myostatin (MSTN) variants have been reported to be highly associated with horse racing performance, the trait is more likely to be polygenic in nature. The purpose of this study was to identify genetic variants strongly associated with racing performance by using estimated breeding value (EBV) for race time as a phenotype. We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study to search for genetic variants associated with the EBV. In the first stage of genome-wide association study, a relatively large number of markers (~54,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) were evaluated in a small number of samples (240 horses). In the second stage, a relatively small number of markers identified to have large effects (170 SNPs) were evaluated in a much larger number of samples (1,156 horses). We also validated the SNPs related to MSTN known to have large effects on racing performance and found significant associations in the stage two analysis, but not in stage one. We identified 28 significant SNPs related to 17 genes. Among these, six genes have a function related to myogenesis and five genes are involved in muscle maintenance. To our knowledge, these genes are newly reported for the genetic association with racing performance of Thoroughbreds. It complements a recent horse genome-wide association studies of racing performance that identified other SNPs and genes as the most significant variants. These results will help to expand our knowledge of the polygenic nature of racing performance in Thoroughbreds.
Publication Date: 2015-05-01 PubMed ID: 25925054PubMed Central: PMC4412973DOI: 10.5713/ajas.14.0008Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study aimed to identify genetic variants that are associated with the racing performance of 1,156 thoroughbred horses by conducting a two-stage genome-wide association study. The researchers found 28 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to 17 genes which are different from those discovered in the previous research.
Methodology
The researchers conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study to investigate the genetic variants that could be associated with the performance of racehorses.
- The first stage of the association study involved evaluating a large number of markers (approximately 54,000 SNPs) in a smaller sample size of horses (240 horses).
- In the second stage, a relatively smaller number of markers (170 SNPs) with large effects, as identified in the first stage, were evaluated against a larger sample size (1,156 horses).
Validating MSTN
The known SNPs related to myostatin (MSTN), a gene highly related with horse racing performance, were validated. Significant associations were found in the second stage, but none in the first stage.
Findings
The study ultimately identified 28 significant SNPs associated with 17 genes that might impact the racing performance of thoroughbred horses:
- Six of these genes were found to have a function related to myogenesis, the process of muscle cell formation and growth.
- Five of these genes were involved in the maintenance of muscle, crucial for the strenuous activity of racing.
These genes, previously unreported for their genetic association with racing performance, supplement recent genome-wide association studies of horse racing performance that identified other SNPs and genes as significant variants.
Implications
The results of this thoroughbred-specific study contribute to our understanding of the complex genetic traits that determine horse racing performance. Recognizing the polygenic nature of racing performance in thoroughbreds, the research expands our knowledge of the variety of genes that could influence speed and stamina in these animals. This could potentially inform future breeding and training strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Shin DH, Lee JW, Park JE, Choi IY, Oh HS, Kim HJ, Kim H.
(2015).
Multiple Genes Related to Muscle Identified through a Joint Analysis of a Two-stage Genome-wide Association Study for Racing Performance of 1,156 Thoroughbreds.
Asian-Australas J Anim Sci, 28(6), 771-781.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.14.0008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea.
- Horse Industry Research Center, Korea Racing Authority (KRA), Gwacheon 427-711, Korea .
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea.
- Genome Analysis Center, National Instrumentation and Environmental Management (NICEM), Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea .
- Department of Statistics, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea .
- C&K Genomics, Seoul 151-742, Korea .
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea ; C&K Genomics, Seoul 151-742, Korea .
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