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Spotting the Pattern: A Review on White Coat Color in the Domestic Horse.
Abstract: Traits such as shape, size, and color often influence the economic and sentimental value of a horse. Around the world, horses are bred and prized for the colors and markings that make their unique coat patterns stand out from the crowd. The underlying genetic mechanisms determining the color of a horse's coat can vary greatly in their complexity. For example, only two genetic markers are used to determine a horse's base coat color, whereas over 50 genetic variations have been discovered to cause white patterning in horses. Some of these white-causing mutations are benign and beautiful, while others have a notable impact on horse health. Negative effects range from slightly more innocuous defects, like deafness, to more pernicious defects, such as the lethal developmental defect incurred when a horse inherits two copies of the allele. In this review, we explore, in detail, the etiology of white spotting and its overall effect on the domestic horse to Spot the Pattern of these beautiful (and sometimes dangerous) white mutations.
Publication Date: 2024-01-30 PubMed ID: 38338094DOI: 10.3390/ani14030451Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article focuses on the genetic factors that influence the white coat color in domestic horses and how some of these factors could impact horse health, with effects ranging from deafness to lethal developmental defects.
Overview of the Research
This research paper delves into the interesting and complex world of horse color genetics, particularly focusing on white spotting. The authors discuss the mechanisms behind coat color determination and the genetic factors influencing white patterning in horses.
- The paper begins by describing that horse coat color and patterns, particularly white spotting, heavily influence the economic and sentimental value attached to a horse. Unique coat patterns are a characteristic that horse breeders around the world look for and highly value.
- The researchers explain that the genetic mechanisms causing coloration in horses can range widely in their complexity. Basic coat color, for example, is determined by two genetic markers, while over 50 markers can influence the appearance of white spotting on a horse’s coat.
Impact of White Spotting on Horse Health
The paper also discusses the implications that white spotting can have on horse health.
- Some genetic mutations causing white spots are harmless and aesthetically pleasing, but others can cause health issues in horses.
- These health impacts can range from mild concerns like deafness, to more critical issues. Specifically, inheriting two copies of a certain genetic marker associated with white spotting can cause severe developmental defects, which could be fatal.
Objective of the Review
The authors conduct this review to analyze the cause and effect of white spotting in domestic horses in greater detail. The intent of the paper is to better understand these beautiful, yet potentially harmful, white mutations. Shedding more light on these genetic markers could play a crucial role in determining selective breeding practices and ensuring the health and well-being of domestic horses.
Cite This Article
APA
McFadden A, Vierra M, Martin K, Brooks SA, Everts RE, Lafayette C.
(2024).
Spotting the Pattern: A Review on White Coat Color in the Domestic Horse.
Animals (Basel), 14(3), 451.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030451 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Everts RE, Caron R, Foster G, McLoone K, Simiele L, Martin K, Brooks SA, Lafayette C. Identification of a Novel Haplotype Associated with Roan Coat Color in American Quarter Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 14;15(16).
- Everts RE, Caron R, Foster G, McLoone K, Martin K, Brooks SA, Lafayette C. Identification of Two Genetic Haplotypes Associated with the Roan Coat Color in the American Quarter Horse and Other Equine Breeds. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 9;15(12).
- Wang X, Xu L, Zhou D, Lv Y, Wu J, Zhao Y, Ni M, Zhou W, Zhang K, Wang H, Zhang J. Skin transcriptomic and selection signature analyses identify ASIP as a key gene in cattle coat color determination. Front Genet 2025;16:1577647.
- Obradovic NA, McFadden A, Martin K, Vierra M, McLoone K, Martin E, Thomas A, Everts RE, Brooks SA, Lafayette C. Three Novel KIT Polymorphisms Found in Horses with White Coat Color Phenotypes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 22;15(7).
- Dai D, Sari EM, Si J, Ashari H, Dagong MIA, Pauciullo A, Lenstra JA, Han J, Zhang Y. Genomic analysis reveals the association of KIT and MITF variants with the white spotting in swamp buffaloes. BMC Genomics 2024 Jul 24;25(1):713.
- Abitbol M, Dufaure de Citres C, Rudd Garces G, Lühken G, Lyons LA, Gache V. Different Founding Effects Underlie Dominant Blue Eyes (DBE) in the Domestic Cat. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 21;14(13).
- Liu X, Peng Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Chen W, Kou X, Liang H, Ren W, Khan MZ, Wang C. Coloration in Equine: Overview of Candidate Genes Associated with Coat Color Phenotypes. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 17;14(12).
- McFadden A, Vierra M, Robilliard H, Martin K, Brooks SA, Everts RE, Lafayette C. Population Analysis Identifies 15 Multi-Variant Dominant White Haplotypes in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 5;14(3).
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