Research done by scientists, including one in veterinary medicine, the other in biochemistry, could impact strategies for treating horses for certain inherited diseases. It’s being characterized as ‘filling in the gaps’ in the equine reference genome.
University of Kentucky Professor of Veterinary Science Jamie MacLeod calls it a substantial improvement to the DNA sequence of all horses. He says it could affect analyzing DNA from groups of animals that have a certain disease, behavioral trait, or any other trait.
“We can do that better and more efficiently and more accurately because our reference map, our reference genome is more accurate," MacLeod said.
The advances came through re-analyzing DNA from a thoroughbred named Twilight, the basis for the original horse reference genome.
University of Louisville principal investigator Ted Kalbfleisch says the implication for equine disease treatment could be for any horse with an inherited component.
MacLeod says it’s not limited to horse diseases, but could also pertain to traits like growth rate and performance aspects.
