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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Hered / The MC1R and ASIP Coat Color Loci May Impact Behavior in the...
The Journal of heredity2016; 107(3); 214-219; doi: 10.1093/jhered/esw007

The MC1R and ASIP Coat Color Loci May Impact Behavior in the Horse.

Abstract: Shared signaling pathways utilized by melanocytes and neurons result in pleiotropic traits of coat color and behavior in many mammalian species. For example, in humans polymorphisms at MC1R cause red hair, increased heat sensitivity, and lower pain tolerance. In deer mice, rats, and foxes, ASIP polymorphisms causing black coat color lead to more docile demeanors and reduced activity. Horse (Equus caballus) base coat color is primarily determined by polymorphisms at the Melanocortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) loci, creating a black, bay, or chestnut coat. Our goal was to investigate correlations between genetic loci for coat color and temperament traits in the horse. We genotyped a total of 215 North American Tennessee Walking Horses for the 2 most common alleles at the MC1R (E/e) and ASIP (A/a) loci using previously published PCR and RFLP methods. The horses had a mean age of 10.5 years and comprised 83 geldings, 25 stallions, and 107 mares. To assess behavior, we adapted a previously published survey for handlers to score horses from 1 to 9 on 20 questions related to specific aspects of temperament. We utilized principle component analysis to combine the individual survey scores into 4 factors of variation in temperament phenotype. A factor component detailing self-reliance correlated with genotypes at the ASIP locus; black mares (aa) were more independent than bay mares (A_) (P = 0.0063). These findings illuminate a promising and novel animal model for future study of neuroendocrine mechanisms in complex behavioral phenotypes.
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Publication Date: 2016-02-16 PubMed ID: 26884605PubMed Central: PMC4885240DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esw007Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 paper investigates the potential influence of certain genes related to horse coat color and their effect on the animals’ behavior. Their study based on North American Tennessee Walking Horses suggests that coat color genetics may also play a role in determining aspects of horse temperament, such as independence.

Overview of Research Methods

  • The researchers examined the Melanocortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) loci, which are primarily responsible for horses’ base coat color.
  • The study was conducted on 215 North American Tennessee Walking Horses, encompassing 83 geldings, 25 stallions, and 107 mares, with a mean age of 10.5 years.
  • The horses were genotyped for the two most common alleles at MC1R (E/e) and ASIP (A/a), using previously established PCR and RFLP methods.
  • Arcane behaviors were evaluated on a scale of 1 to 9 for 20 different temperament-associated aspects, based on a handler-completed survey.
  • Principle component analysis was deployed to group individual survey scores into four factors demonstrating variations in temperament phenotype.

Key Findings

  • The prime discovery was the correlation between a factor detailing self-reliance (an aspect of temperament) and genotypes at the ASIP gene locus.
  • Black mares (which have the ‘aa’ genotype) exhibited higher levels of independence than bay mares (carrying the ‘A_’ genotype), with a statistically significant correlation (P = 0.0063).

Implications of the Study

  • This finding suggests a potential link between the genetic makeup responsible for coat color and the horse’s behavior traits.
  • This outcome point towards a promising animal model that could be explored for understanding the role of neuroendocrine mechanisms in complex behavioral phenotypes.

The research lays groundwork for further investigations into these findings across a larger range, potentially deepening human understanding of gene-behavior correlations, not just in horses but possibly even in a broader range of species.

Cite This Article

APA
Jacobs LN, Staiger EA, Albright JD, Brooks SA. (2016). The MC1R and ASIP Coat Color Loci May Impact Behavior in the Horse. J Hered, 107(3), 214-219. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esw007

Publication

The Journal of heredity
ISSN: 1465-7333
NlmUniqueID: 0375373
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 107
Issue: 3
Pages: 214-219

Researcher Affiliations

Jacobs, Lauren N
  • From the Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Jacobs and Staiger); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996 (Albright); Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611 (Brooks).
Staiger, Elizabeth A
  • From the Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Jacobs and Staiger); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996 (Albright); Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611 (Brooks).
Albright, Julia D
  • From the Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Jacobs and Staiger); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996 (Albright); Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611 (Brooks).
Brooks, Samantha A
  • From the Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Jacobs and Staiger); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996 (Albright); Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611 (Brooks). samantha.brooks@ufl.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Agouti Signaling Protein / genetics
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Breeding
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genotype
  • Hair Color / genetics
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Signal Transduction
  • Temperament

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Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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