Texas A&M Researchers Unlock Quarter Horse Genome
Posted February 17, 2012
COLLEGE STATION, TX - A truly American horse breed, the American
Quarter Horse first came to being in the early colonial era in
America. And in a study recently reported in the journal, BMC
Genomics, researchers at Texas A&M University's College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), working with
collaborators in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences and the AgriLife Genomics and Bioinformatics Center, have
sequenced the first Quarter Horse genome - unlocking the secrets of
what makes this breed so unique.
Genome sequencing is not a new science, but advances in
sequencing technology, often referred to as next-generation
sequencing, have made it easier and cheaper to sequence the genome
of an individual, which can then be analyzed for clues causing
genetic disorders and distinctive traits. The Texas A&M
Quarter Horse is the first horse to be sequenced using
next-generation sequencing technology.
"Genome sequencing aids our study of normal and abnormal genetic
variation," said Dr. Scott Dindot, Assistant Professor in the
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at the CVM. "This project is
important because it is a start towards understanding what genetic
factors make breeds unique, and what mutations may play a role in
presenting or diagnosing disease.
Dr. Noah Cohen, Professor in the Department of Large Animal
Clinical Sciences in the CVM and collaborator in the study,
underscored the importance of the role genetic variation plays in
the disease process.
"This study represents a valuable contribution to our
understanding of genetic variation in horses," said Cohen,
"including efforts to study the relationship between genetic
variation and susceptibility to important diseases in Quarter
Horses and other breeds."
The first horse genome to be sequenced and assembled, a
Thoroughbred mare, was completed by a large international
consortium. This reference assembly was used to map the Quarter
Horse genome and to identify differences in genetic information
between the two horses. The sequence data from the project has been
made available publicly for researchers interested in equine
genetics.
"The horse used in the study, a mare named Sugar, is the
descendant of key foundation sires in the Quarter Horse breed,"
added Dindot. "We were able to identify several genetic variants in
this mare, both good and bad, known to be common among Quarter
Horses. Results from this study have increased our knowledge of
genetic variation in horses three- to four-fold, and proved that
through collaborations such as this, we can one day apply this
state-of-the-art technology to identify and possibly to manage
genetic disorders not only in horses, but also in other
species."
The genome sequence of a Quarter Horse has a the potential to
have a tremendous impact on the equine industry, as the American
Quarter Horse Association represents the largest breed registry in
the United States. The information from this study may lead
to improvements in performance in horses, and facilitate the
management of health of horses everywhere.
"Many diseases and 'syndromes' are the result of genetic
variation," said Dr. Jason Sawyer, Texas AgriLife Research
scientist and Associate Professor of animal science. "Perhaps more
importantly, the ability to combat infectious diseases may be
greatly impacted by the underlying genome and the variation that
arises during recombination. This study has identified areas of
variation that may play a role in the health and disease resistance
of horses. While more research must be done to specifically
identify desirable and beneficial variants, this study has set the
stage to enable those future studies."
Funding for the study was provided by the G. Willard and Ginger
Pool Equine Teaching and Research Endowment, the Link Equine
Research Endowment, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M
Department of Animal Science, and the Department of Veterinary
Pathobiology at the CVM.
Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718
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