Genome-Wide Association Studies Based on Equine Joint Angle Measurements Reveal New QTL Affecting the Conformation of Horses.

Gmel, Annik Imogen; Druml, Thomas; von Niederhäusern, Rudolf; Leeb, Tosso; Neuditschko, Markus (2019). Genome-Wide Association Studies Based on Equine Joint Angle Measurements Reveal New QTL Affecting the Conformation of Horses. Genes, 10(5) MDPI 10.3390/genes10050370

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The evaluation of conformation traits is an important part of selection for breeding stallions and mares. Some of these judged conformation traits involve joint angles that are associated with performance, health, and longevity. To improve our understanding of the genetic background of joint angles in horses, we have objectively measured the angles of the poll, elbow, carpal, fetlock (front and hind), hip, stifle, and hock joints based on one photograph of each of the 300 Franches-Montagnes (FM) and 224 Lipizzan (LIP) horses. After quality control, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for these traits were performed on 495 horses, using 374,070 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a mixed-effect model. We identified two significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the poll angle on ECA28 (p = 1.36 × 10-7), 50 kb downstream of the gene, involved in cranial morphology, and for the elbow joint on ECA29 (p = 1.69 × 10-7), 49 kb downstream of the gene, and 75 kb upstream of the gene. Both genes are associated with bone mineral density in humans. Furthermore, we identified other suggestive QTL associated with the stifle joint on ECA8 (p = 3.10 × 10-7); the poll on ECA1 (p = 6.83 × 10-7); the fetlock joint of the hind limb on ECA27 (p = 5.42 × 10-7); and the carpal joint angle on ECA3 (p = 6.24 × 10-7), ECA4 (p = 6.07 × 10-7), and ECA7 (p = 8.83 × 10-7). The application of angular measurements in genetic studies may increase our understanding of the underlying genetic effects of important traits in equine breeding.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Institute of Genetics
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH)

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

UniBE Contributor:

Gmel, Annik Imogen, Leeb, Tosso

Subjects:

500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture
500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology

ISSN:

2073-4425

Publisher:

MDPI

Language:

English

Submitter:

Tosso Leeb

Date Deposited:

04 Jun 2019 11:36

Last Modified:

07 Aug 2024 15:45

Publisher DOI:

10.3390/genes10050370

PubMed ID:

31091839

Uncontrolled Keywords:

GWAS carpus development elbow equus caballus growth poll stifle

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.130782

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/130782

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