Research: Biomedical Genomics
Our lab focuses on studying the heredity basis of equine congenital defects and economically significant traits in domestic animals (mainly the horse); interrelationships of inbreeding, genetic polymorphism, and reproductive performance in horses; population genetics of feral horses; comparative aspects of genetics variation in horses under human selection and under natural selection; genetic aspects of captivity; genetics of domestication. Management of genetic polymorphism in small populations and conservation of rare breeds; genetic relationship among domestic horse breeds; changes in gene regulation based upon environmental factors; gene mapping of the horse.
Publications
Journal Cover
Mutations in DMRT3 affect locomotion in horses and spinal circuit function in mice.
Andersson LS, Larhammar M, Memic F, Wootz H, Schwochow D, Rubin CJ, Patra K, Arnason T, Wellbring L, Hjälm G, Imsland F, Petersen JL, McCue ME, Mickelson JR, Cothran G, Ahituv N, Roepstorff L, Mikko S, Vallstedt A, Lindgren G, Andersson L, Kullander K.
Nature. 2012 Aug 30;488(7413):642-6. doi: 10.1038/nature11399.
PMID: 22932389
Microsatellite analysis of genetic variability in Waler horses from Australia.
A. M. Khanshour, R. Juras and E.G. Cothran.
Australian Journal of Zoology 61(5) 357-365
Selected Publications
Population Genetic Analysis of the Estonian Native Horse Suggests Diverse and Distinct Genetics, Ancient Origin and Contribution from Unique Patrilines.
Castaneda C, Juras R, Khanshour A, Randlaht I, Wallner B, Rigler D, Lindgren G, Raudsepp T, Cothran EG.
Genes (Basel). 2019 Aug 20;10(8).
PMID: 31434327
Comparative FISH-Mapping of MC1R, ASIP, and TYRP1 in New and Old World Camelids and Association Analysis With Coat Color Phenotypes in the Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius).
Alshanbari F, Castaneda C, Juras R, Hillhouse A, Mendoza MN, Gutiérrez GA, Ponce de León FA, Raudsepp T.
Front Genet. 2019 Apr 16;10:340.
PMID: 31040864
Genetic diversity and origin of the feral horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Ovchinnikov IV, Dahms T, Herauf B, McCann B, Juras R, Castaneda C, Cothran EG.
PLoS One. 2018 Aug 1;13(8):e0200795.
PMID: 30067807
A missense variant in the coil1A domain of the keratin 25 gene is associated with the dominant curly hair coat trait (Crd) in horse.
Morgenthaler C, Diribarne M, Capitan A, Legendre R, Saintilan R, Gilles M, Esquerré D, Juras R, Khanshour A, Schibler L, Cothran G.
Genet Sel Evol. 2017 Nov 15;49(1):85.
PMID: 29141579
The legend of the Canadian horse: genetic diversity and breed origin.
Khanshour A, Juras R, Blackburn R, Cothran EG.
J Hered. 2015 Jan-Feb;106(1):37-44.
PMID: 25416795
Copy number variation in the horse genome.
Ghosh S, Qu Z, Das PJ, Fang E, Juras R, Cothran EG, McDonell S, Kenney DG, Lear TL, Adelson DL, Chowdhary BP, Raudsepp T.
PLoS Genet. 2014 Oct 23;10(10):e1004712. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004712. eCollection 2014 Oct.
PMID: 25340504
Worldwide frequency distribution of the ‘Gait keeper’ mutation in the DMRT3 gene.
Promerová M, Andersson LS, Juras R, Penedo MC, Reissmann M, Tozaki T, Bellone R, Dunner S, Hořín P, Imsland F, Imsland P, Mikko S, Modrý D, Roed KH, Schwochow D, Vega-Pla JL, Mehrabani-Yeganeh H, Yousefi-Mashouf N, G Cothran E, Lindgren G, Andersson L.
Anim Genet. 2014 Apr;45(2):274-82. doi: 10.1111/age.12120. Epub 2014 Jan 21.
PMID: 24444049
Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Arabian horse populations.
Khanshour A, Conant E, Juras R, Cothran EG.
J Hered. 2013 May-Jun;104(3):386-98. doi: 10.1093/jhered/est003. Epub 2013 Feb 28.
PMID: 23450090
Equine multiple congenital ocular anomalies and silver coat colour result from the pleiotropic effects of mutant PMEL.
Andersson LS, Wilbe M, Viluma A, Cothran G, Ekesten B, Ewart S, Lindgren G.
PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e75639. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075639. eCollection 2013.
PMID: 24086599
A microsatellite analysis of five Colonial Spanish horse populations of the southeastern United States.
Conant EK, Juras R, Cothran EG.
Anim Genet. 2012 Feb;43(1):53-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02210.x. Epub 2011 May 23.
PMID: 22221025
Genetic diversity and admixture among Canadian, Mountain and Moorland and Nordic pony populations.
Prystupa JM, Juras R, Cothran EG, Buchanan FC, Plante Y.
Animal. 2012 Jan;6(1):19-30. doi: 10.1017/S1751731111001212.
PMID: 22436150
Genetic diversity in the modern horse illustrated from genome-wide SNP data.
Petersen JL, Mickelson JR, Cothran EG, Andersson LS, Axelsson J, Bailey E, Bannasch D, Binns MM, Borges AS, Brama P, da Câmara Machado A, Distl O, Felicetti M, Fox-Clipsham L, Graves KT, Guérin G, Haase B, Hasegawa T, Hemmann K, Hill EW, Leeb T, Lindgren G, Lohi H, Lopes MS, McGivney BA, Mikko S, Orr N, Penedo MC, Piercy RJ, Raekallio M, Rieder S, Røed KH, Silvestrelli M, Swinburne J, Tozaki T, Vaudin M, M Wade C, McCue ME.
PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54997. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054997. Epub 2013 Jan 30.
PMID: 23383025
Maternal phylogenetic relationships and genetic variation among Arabian horse populations using whole mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequencing.
Khanshour AM, Cothran EG.
BMC Genet. 2013 Sep 13;14:83. doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-14-83.
PMID: 24034565
Targeted analysis of four breeds narrows equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies locus to 208 kilobases.
Andersson LS, Lyberg K, Cothran G, Ramsey DT, Juras R, Mikko S, Ekesten B, Ewart S, Lindgren G.
Mamm Genome. 2011 Jun;22(5-6):353-60. doi: 10.1007/s00335-011-9325-7. Epub 2011 Apr 5.
PMID: 21465164
Genetic variability in the Skyros pony and its relationship with other Greek and foreign horse breeds.
Bömcke E, Gengler N, Cothran EG.
Genet Mol Biol. 2011 Jan;34(1):68-76. doi: 10.1590/S1415-47572010005000113. Epub 2011 Mar 1.
PMID: 21637546
Genetic analysis of the Venezuelan Criollo horse.
Cothran EG, Canelon JL, Luis C, Conant E, Juras R.
Genet Mol Res. 2011 Oct 7;10(4):2394-403. doi: 10.4238/2011.October.7.1.
PMID: 22002132
Maternal lineages in native Canadian equine populations and their relationship to the Nordic and Mountain and Moorland pony breeds.
Prystupa JM, Hind P, Cothran EG, Plante Y.
J Hered. 2012 May-Jun;103(3):380-90. doi: 10.1093/jhered/ess003. Epub 2012 Apr 13.
PMID: 22504109
XX/XY Blood lymphocyte chimerism in heterosexual dizygotic twins from a American Bashkir Curly horse. Case Report.
Juras R., Raudsepp T., Das P.J., Conant E., Cothran E.G. 2010.
Case Report. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 30 (10): 575-580
Genetic diversity and relationships of Portuguese and other horse breeds based on protein and microsatellite loci variation.
Luís C, Juras R, Oom MM, Cothran EG.
Anim Genet. 2007 Feb;38(1):20-7.
PMID: 17257184
Inbreeding and genetic structure in the endangered Sorraia horse breed: implications for its conservation and management.
Luís C, Cothran EG, Oom Mdo M.
J Hered. 2007 May-Jun;98(3):232-7. Epub 2007 Apr 2.
PMID: 17404326
A missense mutation in PMEL17 is associated with the Silver coat color in the horse.
Brunberg E, Andersson L, Cothran G, Sandberg K, Mikko S, Lindgren G.
BMC Genet. 2006 Oct 9;7:46.
PMID: 17029645
Genetic structure and phylogenetic relationships of the Polish Heavy horse.
Iwańczyk E, Juras R, Cholewiński G, Cothran EG.
J Appl Genet. 2006;47(4):353-9.
PMID: 17132900
Limited number of patrilines in horse domestication.
Lindgren G, Backström N, Swinburne J, Hellborg L, Einarsson A, Sandberg K, Cothran G, Vilà C, Binns M, Ellegren H.
Nat Genet. 2004 Apr;36(4):335-6. Epub 2004 Mar 14.
PMID: 15034578
Genetic Analysis of Three Lithuanian Native Horse Breeds.
Rytis Juras, E. Gus Cothran & Ramutis Klimas
Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science Volume 53, Issue 4, 2003. Pages 180-185.
DOI: 10.1080/09064700310012971
Genetic diversity of Cheju horses (Equus caballus) determined by using mitochondrial DNA D-loop polymorphism.
Yang YH, Kim KI, Cothran EG, Flannery AR.
Biochem Genet. 2002 Jun;40(5-6):175-86.
PMID: 12137332
Rejection of MITF and MGF as the genes responsible for appaloosa coat colour patterns in horses.
Terry RB, Bailey E, Lear T, Cothran EG.
Anim Genet. 2002 Feb;33(1):82-4. No abstract available.
PMID:11849149
Genetic differentiation associated with gait within American standardbred horses.
Cothran EG, MacCluer JW, Weitkamp LR, Bailey E.
Anim Genet. 1987;18(4):285-96.
PMID: 3481678
Genetic analysis of three South African horse breeds.
Cothran EG, van Dyk E.
J S Afr Vet Assoc. 1998 Dec;69(4):120-5.
PMID: 10192084
Inbreeding and reproductive performance in standardbred horses.
Cothran EG, MacCluer JW, Weitkamp LR, Pfennig DW, Boyce AJ.
J Hered. 1984 May-Jun;75(3):220-4.
PMID: 6736603