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Nature communications2012; 3; 643; doi: 10.1038/ncomms1644

The genetic origin and history of speed in the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Abstract: Selective breeding for speed in the racehorse has resulted in an unusually high frequency of the C-variant (g.66493737C/T) at the myostatin gene (MSTN) in cohorts of the Thoroughbred horse population that are best suited to sprint racing. Here we show using a combination of molecular- and pedigree-based approaches in 593 horses from 22 Eurasian and North-American horse populations, museum specimens from 12 historically important Thoroughbred stallions (b.1764-1930), 330 elite-performing modern Thoroughbreds and 42 samples from three other equid species that the T-allele was ancestral and there was a single introduction of the C-allele at the foundation stages of the Thoroughbred from a British-native mare. Furthermore, we show that although the C-allele was rare among the celebrated racehorses of the 18th and 19th centuries, it has proliferated recently in the population via the stallion Nearctic (b.1954), the sire of the most influential stallion of modern time, Northern Dancer (b.1961).
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Publication Date: 2012-01-24 PubMed ID: 22273681DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1644Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study explores the genetic origins of speed in Thoroughbred racehorses, showing that selective breeding has led to a high frequency of the C-variant at the MSTN gene. This variant is common in horses best suited to sprint racing. The researchers also discovered that the T-allele was the original gene, and the C-allele was introduced once during the early stages of the Thoroughbred breed from a British-native mare.

Research Methodology and Sample Size

  • The study employed a mix of molecular and pedigree-based approaches to thoroughly examine the genetic lineage of speed in Thoroughbred horses.
  • A large sample size was assembled for this research. The total number of horses analyzed was 593, collected from 22 horse populations from Eurasia and North America.
  • The researchers also examined museum specimens from 12 important Thoroughbred stallions born between 1764 and 1930.
  • Moreover, the study used samples from 330 modern top-performing Thoroughbreds as well as 42 samples from three different equid species.

Genetic Findings

  • The key finding of this research is that selective breeding for speed resulted in a high occurrence of the C-variant at the myostatin (MSTN) gene in Thoroughbred horses that excel in sprint racing.
  • Historically, the T-allele was the original version of the gene, but a single introduction of the C-allele occurred during the early development of the Thoroughbred breed.
  • This introduction of the C-allele came from a British-native mare, marking a significant point in the development of the breed known for its speed.

Impact of the C-Allele

  • While the C-allele was rare among celebrated racehorses of 18th and 19th centuries, it has recently proliferated in the population.
  • This spread can be traced back to Nearctic, a stallion born in 1954. Nearctic was the sire of Northern Dancer, one of the most influential Thoroughbred stallions of modern times, born in 1961.
  • The lineage of Northern Dancer demonstrates the continued proliferation and influence of the C-allele in current Thoroughbred populations renowned for their speed.

Cite This Article

APA
Bower MA, McGivney BA, Campana MG, Gu J, Andersson LS, Barrett E, Davis CR, Mikko S, Stock F, Voronkova V, Bradley DG, Fahey AG, Lindgren G, MacHugh DE, Sulimova G, Hill EW. (2012). The genetic origin and history of speed in the Thoroughbred racehorse. Nat Commun, 3, 643. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1644

Publication

Nature communications
ISSN: 2041-1723
NlmUniqueID: 101528555
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 3
Pages: 643

Researcher Affiliations

Bower, Mim A
  • McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
McGivney, Beatrice A
    Campana, Michael G
      Gu, Jingjing
        Andersson, Lisa S
          Barrett, Elizabeth
            Davis, Catherine R
              Mikko, Sofia
                Stock, Frauke
                  Voronkova, Valery
                    Bradley, Daniel G
                      Fahey, Alan G
                        Lindgren, Gabriella
                          MacHugh, David E
                            Sulimova, Galina
                              Hill, Emmeline W

                                MeSH Terms

                                • Alleles
                                • Animals
                                • Breeding
                                • Female
                                • Genotype
                                • Haplotypes
                                • Horses / genetics
                                • Horses / physiology
                                • Linkage Disequilibrium
                                • Models, Genetic
                                • Pedigree
                                • Sequence Analysis, DNA

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                                This article has been cited 40 times.
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