1
|
McFadden A, Vierra M, Martin K, Brooks SA, Everts RE, Lafayette C. Spotting the Pattern: A Review on White Coat Color in the Domestic Horse. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:451. [PMID: 38338094 PMCID: PMC10854722 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Traits such as shape, size, and color often influence the economic and sentimental value of a horse. Around the world, horses are bred and prized for the colors and markings that make their unique coat patterns stand out from the crowd. The underlying genetic mechanisms determining the color of a horse's coat can vary greatly in their complexity. For example, only two genetic markers are used to determine a horse's base coat color, whereas over 50 genetic variations have been discovered to cause white patterning in horses. Some of these white-causing mutations are benign and beautiful, while others have a notable impact on horse health. Negative effects range from slightly more innocuous defects, like deafness, to more pernicious defects, such as the lethal developmental defect incurred when a horse inherits two copies of the Lethal White Overo allele. In this review, we explore, in detail, the etiology of white spotting and its overall effect on the domestic horse to Spot the Pattern of these beautiful (and sometimes dangerous) white mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aiden McFadden
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; (M.V.); (K.M.); (R.E.E.); (C.L.)
| | - Micaela Vierra
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; (M.V.); (K.M.); (R.E.E.); (C.L.)
| | - Katie Martin
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; (M.V.); (K.M.); (R.E.E.); (C.L.)
| | - Samantha A. Brooks
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Robin E. Everts
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; (M.V.); (K.M.); (R.E.E.); (C.L.)
| | - Christa Lafayette
- Etalon Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; (M.V.); (K.M.); (R.E.E.); (C.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang S, Raza SHA, Zhang K, Mei C, Alamoudi MO, Aloufi BH, Alshammari AM, Zan L. Selection signatures of Qinchuan cattle based on whole-genome sequences. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:1483-1491. [PMID: 35152846 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2022.2033252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Qinchuan cattle has gradually improved in body shape and growth rate in the long-term breeding process from the draft cattle to beef cattle. As the head of the five local yellow cattle in China, the Qinchuan cattle has been designated as a specialized beef cattle breed. We investigated the selection signatures using whole genome sequencing data in Qinchuan cattle. Based on Fst, we detected hundreds of candidate genes under selection across Qinchuan, Red Angus, and Japanese Black cattle. Through protein-protein interaction analysis and functional annotation of candidate genes, the results revealed that KMT2E, LTBP1 and NIPBL were related to brain size, body characteristics, and limb development, respectively, suggesting that these potential genes may affect the growth and development traits in Qinchuan cattle. ARIH2, DACT1 and DNM2, et al. are related to meat quality. Meanwhile, TBXA2R can be used as a gene associated with reproductive function, and USH2A affect coat color. This provided a glimpse into the formation of breeds and molecular genetic breeding. Our findings will promote genome-assisted breeding to improve animal production and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sihu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | | | - Ke Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Chugang Mei
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Muna O Alamoudi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bandar H Aloufi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Linsen Zan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Yangling, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Morrill K, Hekman J, Li X, McClure J, Logan B, Goodman L, Gao M, Dong Y, Alonso M, Carmichael E, Snyder-Mackler N, Alonso J, Noh HJ, Johnson J, Koltookian M, Lieu C, Megquier K, Swofford R, Turner-Maier J, White ME, Weng Z, Colubri A, Genereux DP, Lord KA, Karlsson EK. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 2022; 376:eabk0639. [PMID: 35482869 DOI: 10.1126/science.abk0639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral genetics in dogs has focused on modern breeds, which are isolated subgroups with distinctive physical and, purportedly, behavioral characteristics. We interrogated breed stereotypes by surveying owners of 18,385 purebred and mixed-breed dogs and genotyping 2155 dogs. Most behavioral traits are heritable [heritability (h2) > 25%], and admixture patterns in mixed-breed dogs reveal breed propensities. Breed explains just 9% of behavioral variation in individuals. Genome-wide association analyses identify 11 loci that are significantly associated with behavior, and characteristic breed behaviors exhibit genetic complexity. Behavioral loci are not unusually differentiated in breeds, but breed propensities align, albeit weakly, with ancestral function. We propose that behaviors perceived as characteristic of modern breeds derive from thousands of years of polygenic adaptation that predates breed formation, with modern breeds distinguished primarily by aesthetic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Morrill
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jessica Hekman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jesse McClure
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Brittney Logan
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Linda Goodman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Fauna Bio Inc., Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Mingshi Gao
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Yinan Dong
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Marjie Alonso
- The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, USA.,IAABC Foundation, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, USA
| | - Elena Carmichael
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85251, USA.,School for Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85251, USA.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85251, USA
| | - Jacob Alonso
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hyun Ji Noh
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Charlie Lieu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Darwin's Ark Foundation, Seattle, WA 98026, USA
| | - Kate Megquier
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ross Swofford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Michelle E White
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Andrés Colubri
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Kathryn A Lord
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elinor K Karlsson
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Darwin's Ark Foundation, Seattle, WA 98026, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Slavney AJ, Kawakami T, Jensen MK, Nelson TC, Sams AJ, Boyko AR. Five genetic variants explain over 70% of hair coat pheomelanin intensity variation in purebred and mixed breed domestic dogs. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250579. [PMID: 34043658 PMCID: PMC8158882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the pigment molecule pheomelanin confers red and yellow color to hair, and the intensity of this coloration is caused by variation in the amount of pheomelanin. Domestic dogs exhibit a wide range of pheomelanin intensity, ranging from the white coat of the Samoyed to the deep red coat of the Irish Setter. While several genetic variants have been associated with specific coat intensity phenotypes in certain dog breeds, they do not explain the majority of phenotypic variation across breeds. In order to gain further insight into the extent of multigenicity and epistatic interactions underlying coat pheomelanin intensity in dogs, we leveraged a large dataset obtained via a direct-to-consumer canine genetic testing service. This consisted of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data and owner-provided photos for 3,057 pheomelanic mixed breed and purebred dogs from 63 breeds and varieties spanning the full range of canine coat pheomelanin intensity. We first performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 2,149 of these dogs to search for additional genetic variants that underlie intensity variation. GWAS identified five loci significantly associated with intensity, of which two (CFA15 29.8 Mb and CFA20 55.8 Mb) replicate previous findings and three (CFA2 74.7 Mb, CFA18 12.9 Mb, CFA21 10.9 Mb) have not previously been reported. In order to assess the combined predictive power of these loci across dog breeds, we used our GWAS data set to fit a linear model, which explained over 70% of variation in coat pheomelanin intensity in an independent validation dataset of 908 dogs. These results introduce three novel pheomelanin intensity loci, and further demonstrate the multigenic nature of coat pheomelanin intensity determination in domestic dogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. Slavney
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Takeshi Kawakami
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Meghan K. Jensen
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. Nelson
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Aaron J. Sams
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Adam R. Boyko
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|