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Durward-Akhurst SA, Marlowe JL, Schaefer RJ, Springer K, Grantham B, Carey WK, Bellone RR, Mickelson JR, McCue ME. Predicted genetic burden and frequency of phenotype-associated variants in the horse. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8396. [PMID: 38600096 PMCID: PMC11006912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57872-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Disease-causing variants have been identified for less than 20% of suspected equine genetic diseases. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) allows rapid identification of rare disease causal variants. However, interpreting the clinical variant consequence is confounded by the number of predicted deleterious variants that healthy individuals carry (predicted genetic burden). Estimation of the predicted genetic burden and baseline frequencies of known deleterious or phenotype associated variants within and across the major horse breeds have not been performed. We used WGS of 605 horses across 48 breeds to identify 32,818,945 variants, demonstrate a high predicted genetic burden (median 730 variants/horse, interquartile range: 613-829), show breed differences in predicted genetic burden across 12 target breeds, and estimate the high frequencies of some previously reported disease variants. This large-scale variant catalog for a major and highly athletic domestic animal species will enhance its ability to serve as a model for human phenotypes and improves our ability to discover the bases for important equine phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Durward-Akhurst
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, C339 VMC, 1353 Boyd Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
| | - J L Marlowe
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, C339 VMC, 1353 Boyd Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - R J Schaefer
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 VMC, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - K Springer
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 VMC, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - B Grantham
- Interval Bio LLC, 408 Stierline Road, Mountain View, CA, 94043, USA
| | - W K Carey
- Interval Bio LLC, 408 Stierline Road, Mountain View, CA, 94043, USA
| | - R R Bellone
- Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Population Health and Reproduction and Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J R Mickelson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, 295F Animal Science Veterinary Medicine Building, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - M E McCue
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 VMC, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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Mura MC, Carcangiu V, Cosso G, Columbano N, Sanna Passino E, Luridiana S. Discrepancies between Genetic and Visual Coat Color Assignment in Sarcidano Horse. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:543. [PMID: 38396512 PMCID: PMC10885979 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the discrepancies between genetic and visual coat color assignment in the Sarcidano Horse and to elucidate potential reasons. Individual DNA from 90 Sarcidano Horses was used for genetic assignment of coat color to explore the correspondence with individual forms containing phenotypical traits. The MC1R exon 1 and ASIP exon 3 have been genotyped and sequenced to obtain a picture of the coat color distribution in this breed. Surprisingly, once we compared the genetic results with the individual forms reporting the phenotypic data for each subject, a certain degree of non-correspondence between the phenotypic and genetic data in relation to coat color emerged. From the genetic analysis, Chestnuts (n = 58) resulted the most common Sarcidano Horse (n = 58), followed by a quite large number of Blacks (n = 28) and a very small number of Bays (n = 4), whereas phenotypic distribution resulted in 38 Chestnuts, 40 Bays, only 2 Blacks, and 10 Grays (without the possibility of recognizing the true color they carried). Chestnut resulted a very representative coat color, while many horses that visually identified as Bays were genetically Blacks. This discrepancy, that could be due to a variety of individual and external factors, including age, time of year, living situation and dietary condition, suggesting the importance of accurate coat color identification to ensure adequate features registration and reliable prediction of offspring's coat color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Consuelo Mura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.C.); (N.C.); (E.S.P.); (S.L.)
| | - Vincenzo Carcangiu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.C.); (N.C.); (E.S.P.); (S.L.)
| | | | - Nicolò Columbano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.C.); (N.C.); (E.S.P.); (S.L.)
| | - Eraldo Sanna Passino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.C.); (N.C.); (E.S.P.); (S.L.)
| | - Sebastiano Luridiana
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.C.); (N.C.); (E.S.P.); (S.L.)
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3
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Musiał AD, Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Myćka G, Bieniek A, Yasynetska N. Characteristic of Przewalski horses population from Askania-Nova reserve based on genetic markers. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:7121-7126. [PMID: 37365410 PMCID: PMC10374732 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Przewalski horses are considered the last living population of wild horses, however, they are secondarily feral offspring of herds domesticated ~ 5000 years ago by the Botai culture. After Przewalski horses were almost extinct at the beginning of the twentieth century, their population is about 2500 individuals worldwide, with one of the largest breeding centers in Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine). The research aimed to establish the maternal variation of Przewalski horses population maintained in Askania-Nova Reserve based on mitochondrial DNA hypervariable 1 and hypervariable 2 regions profiling, as well as, analysis of Y chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism unique for Przewalski horses, and coat color markers: MC1R and TBX3. The mtDNA hypervariable regions analysis in 23 Przewalski horses allowed assigning them to three distinctly different haplotypes, showing the greatest similarity to the Equus caballus reference, the Equus przewalskii reference, and to extinct species-Haringtonhippus. The Y chromosome analysis using fluorescently labelled assays differentiated horses in terms of polymorphism (g731821T>C) characteristic of Equus przewalskii. All male individuals presented genotype C characteristics for Przewalski horses. The polymorphisms within the coat color genes indicated only native, wild genotypes. The Y chromosome and coat color analysis denied admixtures of the tested horses with other Equidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna D Musiał
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland
| | - Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Myćka
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bieniek
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland
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4
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Breed Distribution and Allele Frequencies of Base Coat Color, Dilution, and White Patterning Variants across 28 Horse Breeds. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13091641. [PMID: 36140807 PMCID: PMC9498372 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Since domestication, horses have been selectively bred for various coat colors and white spotting patterns. To investigate breed distribution, allele frequencies, and potential lethal variants for recommendations on genetic testing, 29 variants within 14 genes were investigated in 11,281 horses from 28 breeds. The recessive chestnut ea allele in melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) (p.D84N) was identified in four breeds: Knabstrupper, Paint Horse, Percheron, and Quarter Horse. After filtering for relatedness, ea allele frequency in Knabstruppers was estimated at 0.035, thus illustrating the importance of testing for mate selection for base coat color. The Rocky Mountain Horse breed had the highest allele frequency for two of the dilution variants under investigation (Za.f. = 0.32 and Cha.f. = 0.026); marker-assisted selection in this breed could aid in the production of horses with desirable dilute coats with less severe ocular anomalies caused by the silver (Z) allele. With regard to white patterning, nine horses homozygous for the paired box 3 (PAX3) splashed white 2 (SW2) allele (p.C70Y) and six horses homozygous for the KIT proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) sabino 1 (SB1) allele (ECA3g.79544206A>T) were identified, thus determining they are rare and confirming that homozygosity for SW2 is not embryonic lethal. The KIT dominant white 20 (W20) allele (p.R682H) was identified in all but three breeds: Arabian (n = 151), Icelandic Horse (n = 66), and Norwegian Fjord Horse (n = 90). The role of W20 in pigmentation across breeds is not well understood; given the different selection regimes of the breeds investigated, these data provide justification for further evaluating the functional role of this allele in pigmentation. Here, we present the largest dataset reported for coat color variants in horses to date, and these data highlight the importance of breed-specific studies to inform on the proper use of marker-assisted selection and to develop hypotheses related to pigmentation for further testing in horses.
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Marín Navas C, Delgado Bermejo JV, McLean AK, León Jurado JM, de Torres ARDLBYR, Navas González FJ. One Hundred Years of Coat Colour Influences on Genetic Diversity in the Process of Development of a Composite Horse Breed. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020068. [PMID: 35202321 PMCID: PMC8879117 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity and demographic parameters were computed to evaluate the historic effects of coat colour segregation in the process of configuration of the Hispano-Arabian horse (Há). Pedigree records from 207,100 individuals born between 1884 and 2019 were used. Although coat colour is not a determinant for the admission of Hispano-Arabian individuals as apt for breeding, it may provide a representative visual insight into the gene contribution of Spanish Purebred horses (PRE), given many of the dilution genes described in Há are not present in the Arabian Purebred breed (PRá). The lack of consideration of coat colour inheritance patterns by the entities in charge of individual registration and the dodging behaviour of breeders towards the historic banning policies, may have acted as a buffer for diversity loss (lower than 8%). Inbreeding levels ranged from 1.81% in smokey cream horses to 8.80 for white horses. Contextually, crossbred breeding may increase the likelihood for double dilute combinations to occur as denoted by the increased number of Há horses displaying Pearl coats (53 Há against 3 PRE and 0 PRá). Bans against certain coat colours and patterns may have prevented an appropriate registration of genealogical information from the 4th generation onwards for decades. This may have brought about the elongation of generation intervals. Breeder tastes may have returned to the formerly officially-recognised coat colours (Grey and Bay) and Chestnut/Sorrel. However, coat colour conditioning effects must be evaluated timely for relatively short specific periods, as these may describe cyclic patterns already described in owners’ and breeders’ tastes over the centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Marín Navas
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; (C.M.N.); (J.V.D.B.)
| | - Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; (C.M.N.); (J.V.D.B.)
| | - Amy Katherine McLean
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA;
| | - José Manuel León Jurado
- Centro Agropecuario Provincial de Córdoba, Diputación Provincial de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
| | | | - Francisco Javier Navas González
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; (C.M.N.); (J.V.D.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-651-679-262
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Herb VM, Zehetner V, Blohm KO. Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies in a silver coat Missouri Fox Trotter stallion. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2021; 49:350-354. [PMID: 34666370 DOI: 10.1055/a-1581-4810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This is the first description of Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies (MCOA) in a silver coat Missouri Fox Trotter determined to be heterozygous for the Silver PMEL17 missense mutation associated with MCOA and a silver coat in other breeds. The stallion was treated for meningoencephalitis and bilateral uveitis of unknown origin. A complete ophthalmic examination and ocular ultrasonography were performed. As an incidental finding, the patient exhibited bilateral cystic lesions restricted to the temporal anterior uvea consistent with the Cyst phenotype and was genotyped heterozygous for the Silver mutation. Additionally, 4 other non-silver colored Missouri Fox Trotters were genotyped homozygous for the wild-type allele. Screening for PMEL17 mutation in Missouri Fox Trotters accompanied by ophthalmic phenotype characterization is recommended to determine the allelic frequency and facilitate informed breeding decisions since the silver coat color is particularly popular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Maria Herb
- Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Verena Zehetner
- Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Klaas-Ole Blohm
- Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine.,AniCura Tierärztliche Spezialisten Hamburg.,Tierarztpraxis Schönhoff
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Coat Color Roan Shows Association with KIT Variants and No Evidence of Lethality in Icelandic Horses. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060680. [PMID: 32580410 PMCID: PMC7348759 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Roan (Rn) horses show a typical seasonal change of color. Their body is covered with colored and white hair. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis of breeding records of Icelandic horses to challenge the hypothesis of roan being lethal in utero under homozygous condition. The roan to non-roan ratio of foals from roan × roan matings revealed homozygous roan Icelandic horses to be viable. Even though roan is known to be inherited in a dominant mode and epistatic to other coat colors, the causative mutation is still unknown. Nevertheless, an association between roan phenotype and the KIT gene was shown for different horse breeds. In the present study, we identified KIT variants by Sanger sequencing, and show that KIT is also associated with roan in the Icelandic horse breed.
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An Agouti-Signaling-Protein Mutation is Strongly Associated with Melanism in European Roe Deer ( Capreolus capreolus). Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060647. [PMID: 32545389 PMCID: PMC7349051 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population of North-West Germany has a remarkable number of melanistic specimens between 10% and 25%, the underlying genetic mutation-causing melanism is still unknown. We used a gene targeting approach focusing on MC1R and ASIP as important genes of coat coloration. Overall, 1384 bp of MC1R and 2039 bp of ASIP were sequenced in 24 specimens and several SNPs were detected. But only the ASIP-SNP c.33G>T completely segregated both phenotypes leading to the amino acid substitution p.Leu11Phe. The SNP was further evaluated in additional 471 samples. Generally, all black specimens (n = 33) were homozygous TT, whereas chestnut individuals were either homozygote GG (n = 436) or heterozygote GT (n = 26). Considering the fact that all melanistic animals shared two mutated alleles of the strongly associated SNP, we concluded that melanism is inherited in a recessive mode in European roe deer.
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Grilz-Seger G, Reiter S, Neuditschko M, Wallner B, Rieder S, Leeb T, Jagannathan V, Mesarič M, Cotman M, Pausch H, Lindgren G, Velie B, Horna M, Brem G, Druml T. A Genome-Wide Association Analysis in Noriker Horses Identifies a SNP Associated With Roan Coat Color. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 88:102950. [PMID: 32303326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The roan coat color in horses is characterized by dispersed white hair and dark points. This phenotype segregates in a broad range of horse breeds, while the underlying genetic background is still unknown. Previous studies mapped the roan locus to the KIT gene on equine chromosome 3 (ECA3). However, this association could not be validated across different horse breeds. Performing a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) in Noriker horses, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (ECA3:g.79,543.439 A > G) in the intron 17 of the KIT gene. The G -allele of the top associated SNP was present in other roan horses, namely Quarter Horse, Murgese, Slovenian, and Belgian draught horse, while it was absent in a panel of 15 breeds, including 657 non-roan horses. In further 379 gray Lipizzan horses, eight animals exhibited a heterozygous genotype (A/G). Comparative whole-genome sequence analysis of the KIT region revealed two deletions in the downstream region (ECA3:79,533,217_79,533,224delTCGTCTTC; ECA3:79,533,282_79,533,285delTTCT) and a 3 bp deletion combined with 17 bp insertion in intron 20 of KIT (ECA3:79,588,128_79,588,130delinsTTATCTCTATAGTAGTT). Within the Noriker sample, these loci were in complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the identified top SNP. Based upon pedigree information and historical records, we were able to trace back the genetic origin of roan coat color to a baroque gene pool. Furthermore, our data suggest allelic heterogeneity and the existence of additional roan alleles in ponies and breeds related to the English Thoroughbred. In order to study the roan phenotype segregating in those breeds, further association and verification studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertrud Grilz-Seger
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Simone Reiter
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Barbara Wallner
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Tosso Leeb
- Department of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vidhya Jagannathan
- Department of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matjaz Mesarič
- Clinic for Reproduction and Large Animals, University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Markus Cotman
- Department for Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brandon Velie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michaela Horna
- Department of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Gottfried Brem
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Druml T, Grilz-Seger G, Neuditschko M, Horna M, Ricard A, Pausch H, Brem G. Novel insights into Sabino1 and splashed white coat color patterns in horses. Anim Genet 2018; 49:249-253. [PMID: 29635692 PMCID: PMC6001536 DOI: 10.1111/age.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Within the framework of genome‐wide analyses using the novel Axiom® genotyping array, we investigated the distribution of two previously described coat color patterns, namely sabino1 (SBI), associated with the KIT gene (KI16+1037A), and splashed white, associated with the PAX3 gene (ECA6:g.11429753C>T; PAX3C70Y), including a total of 899 horses originating from eight different breeds (Achal Theke, Purebred Arabian, Partbred Arabian, Anglo‐Arabian, Shagya Arabian, Haflinger, Lipizzan and Noriker). Based on the data we collected we were able to demonstrate that, besides Quarter horses, the PAX3C70Y allele is also present in Noriker (seven out of 189) and Lipizzan (three out of 329) horses. The SB1 allele was present in three breeds (Haflinger, 14 out of 98; Noriker, four out of 189; Lipizzan one out of 329). Furthermore, we examined the phenotypes of SB1‐ and PAX3C70Y‐carrier horses for their characteristic white spotting patterns. None of the SB1/sb1‐carrier horses met the criteria defining the Sabino1 pattern according to current applied protocols. From 10 heterozygous PAX3C70Y‐carrier horses, two had nearly a splashed white phenotype. The results of this large‐scale experiment on the genetic association of white spotting patterns in horses underline the influence of gene interactions and population differences on complex traits such as Sabino1 and splashed white.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Druml
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - M Neuditschko
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria.,Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm, Les Longs Prés, CH-1580, Avenches, Switzerland
| | - M Horna
- Department of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
| | - A Ricard
- UMR 1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Domaine de Vilvert, Bat 211, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Recherche et Innovation, La Jumenterie du Pin, 61310, Exmes, France
| | - H Pausch
- Animal Genomics, ETH Zürich, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - G Brem
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria
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Coat colour adaptation of post-glacial horses to increasing forest vegetation. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1816-1819. [PMID: 29085065 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0358-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Wild horses unexpectedly survived terminal Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions until eventual European extirpation in the twentieth century. This survival is tied to either their occurrence in cryptic open habitats or their adaptation to forests. Our niche modelling inferred an increasing presence of horses in post-glacial forests, and our analysis of ancient DNA suggested significant selection for black phenotypes as indicating adaptation to forests.
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