A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses
Abstract Background The back plays a vital role in horse locomotion, where the spine functions as a spring during the stride cycle. A complex interaction between the spine and the muscles of the back contribute to locomotion soundness, gait ability, and performance of riding and racehorses. Conforma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07454-z |
| _version_ | 1818456397342310400 |
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| author | Maria K. Rosengren Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir Susanne Eriksson Rakan Naboulsi Ahmad Jouni Miguel Novoa-Bravo Elsa Albertsdóttir Þorvaldur Kristjánsson Marie Rhodin Åsa Viklund Brandon D. Velie Juan J. Negro Marina Solé Gabriella Lindgren |
| author_facet | Maria K. Rosengren Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir Susanne Eriksson Rakan Naboulsi Ahmad Jouni Miguel Novoa-Bravo Elsa Albertsdóttir Þorvaldur Kristjánsson Marie Rhodin Åsa Viklund Brandon D. Velie Juan J. Negro Marina Solé Gabriella Lindgren |
| author_sort | Maria K. Rosengren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The back plays a vital role in horse locomotion, where the spine functions as a spring during the stride cycle. A complex interaction between the spine and the muscles of the back contribute to locomotion soundness, gait ability, and performance of riding and racehorses. Conformation is commonly used to select horses for breeding and performance in multiple horse breeds, where the back and croup conformation plays a significant role. The conformation of back and croup plays an important role on riding ability in Icelandic horses. However, the genes behind this trait are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with conformation of back and croup in Icelandic horses and to investigate their effects on riding ability. One hundred seventy-seven assessed Icelandic horses were included in the study. A genome-wide association analysis was performed using the 670 K+ Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, and the effects of different haplotypes in the top associated region were estimated for riding ability and additional conformation traits assessed during breeding field tests. Results A suggestive quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the score of back and croup was detected on Equus caballus (ECA) 22 (p-value = 2.67 × 10− 7). Haplotype analysis revealed two opposite haplotypes, which resulted in higher and lower scores of the back and croup, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Horses with the favorable haplotype were more inclined to have a well-balanced backline with an uphill conformation and had, on average, higher scores for the lateral gaits tölt (p-value = 0.02) and pace (p-value = 0.004). This genomic region harbors three genes: C20orf85, ANKRD60 and LOC100056167. ANKRD60 is associated with body height in humans. C20orf85 and ANKRD60 are potentially linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in humans. Conclusions Our results show that the detected QTL for conformation of back and croup is of importance for quality of lateral gaits in Icelandic horses. These findings could result in a genetic test to aid in the selection of breeding horses, thus they are of major interest for horse breeders. The results may also offer a gateway to comparative functional genomics by potentially linking both motor laterality and back inclination in horses with scoliosis in humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:26:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ecce5361bdd42c9b3b5598c65dab655 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:26:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ecce5361bdd42c9b3b5598c65dab6552022-12-21T22:45:22ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642021-04-0122111310.1186/s12864-021-07454-zA QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horsesMaria K. Rosengren0Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir1Susanne Eriksson2Rakan Naboulsi3Ahmad Jouni4Miguel Novoa-Bravo5Elsa Albertsdóttir6Þorvaldur Kristjánsson7Marie Rhodin8Åsa Viklund9Brandon D. Velie10Juan J. Negro11Marina Solé12Gabriella Lindgren13Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesThe Icelandic Agricultural Advisory CentreThe Agricultural University of IcelandDepartment of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesSchool of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyDepartment of Evolutionary Ecology, Doñana Biological Station, CSICDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background The back plays a vital role in horse locomotion, where the spine functions as a spring during the stride cycle. A complex interaction between the spine and the muscles of the back contribute to locomotion soundness, gait ability, and performance of riding and racehorses. Conformation is commonly used to select horses for breeding and performance in multiple horse breeds, where the back and croup conformation plays a significant role. The conformation of back and croup plays an important role on riding ability in Icelandic horses. However, the genes behind this trait are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with conformation of back and croup in Icelandic horses and to investigate their effects on riding ability. One hundred seventy-seven assessed Icelandic horses were included in the study. A genome-wide association analysis was performed using the 670 K+ Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, and the effects of different haplotypes in the top associated region were estimated for riding ability and additional conformation traits assessed during breeding field tests. Results A suggestive quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the score of back and croup was detected on Equus caballus (ECA) 22 (p-value = 2.67 × 10− 7). Haplotype analysis revealed two opposite haplotypes, which resulted in higher and lower scores of the back and croup, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Horses with the favorable haplotype were more inclined to have a well-balanced backline with an uphill conformation and had, on average, higher scores for the lateral gaits tölt (p-value = 0.02) and pace (p-value = 0.004). This genomic region harbors three genes: C20orf85, ANKRD60 and LOC100056167. ANKRD60 is associated with body height in humans. C20orf85 and ANKRD60 are potentially linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in humans. Conclusions Our results show that the detected QTL for conformation of back and croup is of importance for quality of lateral gaits in Icelandic horses. These findings could result in a genetic test to aid in the selection of breeding horses, thus they are of major interest for horse breeders. The results may also offer a gateway to comparative functional genomics by potentially linking both motor laterality and back inclination in horses with scoliosis in humans.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07454-zBackBacklineConformationCroupHigh-density genome scanIcelandic horse |
| spellingShingle | Maria K. Rosengren Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir Susanne Eriksson Rakan Naboulsi Ahmad Jouni Miguel Novoa-Bravo Elsa Albertsdóttir Þorvaldur Kristjánsson Marie Rhodin Åsa Viklund Brandon D. Velie Juan J. Negro Marina Solé Gabriella Lindgren A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses BMC Genomics Back Backline Conformation Croup High-density genome scan Icelandic horse |
| title | A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses |
| title_full | A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses |
| title_fullStr | A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses |
| title_full_unstemmed | A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses |
| title_short | A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses |
| title_sort | qtl for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in icelandic horses |
| topic | Back Backline Conformation Croup High-density genome scan Icelandic horse |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07454-z |
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