Genetics for Horses

Genetics

scientific study of heredity and variation

• Every critter has millions of instructions used to grow and be

• Understanding the genome provides us with the ability to manipulate breeding programs and select for specific traits

Genes

basic unit of inheritance (blueprint)

Genome

complete set of genes and associated regulatory DNA (in nucleus)

Genome map

known order for genes or DNA markers on a chromosome

Gene Locus

DNA site for a gene (ex: locus for grey gene)

• 2 alleles, presence and absence of grey

Horses have 32 pairs of chromosomes 

2007

Sequenced horse DNA 

• Twilight, TB mare’s genome was mapped

• 81% of TB genes traced to 3 ancestors

Why study genomics?

• Compare to humans for increasing clarity

• Insight to diseases of the horse (and ppl)

• Tool for selection

  • bioengineering for health + performance. Can we eliminate major diseases?

Homo vs. heterozygous

Genes are same or diff in each homologous pair

Dominant vs. Recessive

diseases can be recessive→carriers of HYPP, NH, NN, HH