Horse Genome Project

CURRENT GENOMICS RESEARCH PROJECTS

None of us are really gene mappers nor molecular geneticists. Before 1995, each of us was pursuing research on a disease, performance or behavior trait that was important to the health and welfare of horses. But in 1995 we had observed the progress being made by the Human Genome Project and realized that genomic tools would allow us to make better progress toward our goals.

Now that we have the whole genome sequence for the horse, our creative energies are focused on diverse projects, many of which are included in the list that follows this paragraph. Some targets are simple genetic traits, such as cerebellar abiotrophy, dwarfism and lavender foal syndrome, that are probably caused by a single gene defect. Others, such as osteochondrossis dessicans, laminitis and athleticism are probably complex and have multiple genes plus management factors governing the manifestation of the trait. Other traits are not inherited, such as herpesvirus infections, some aspects of laminitis and cartilage repair, but we are still interested in knowing how genes are regulated in connection with the conditions. Knowing this information will allow us to develop therapeutic treatments or devise management practices that will produce healthier horses.

Research Projects Using Tools from the Whole Genome Sequence*
Trait	Breed	Institution
Gene Discovery Projects Allergic Eczema	Icelandic	Swedish University of Agriculture
Anterior Segment Dysgenesis	Rocky Mountain Horse	Texas A & M University
Athletic Performance	Thoroughbred	University College Dublin, Ireland
Athletic Performance	Swedish Trotters	Sweden
Behavior	Swiss Franches Montagnes	University of Berne, Switzerland
Cerebellar Abiotrophy	Arabian	University of California - Davis
Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy	Thoroughbred	University of Kentucky
Chronic Progressive Lymphedema	Belgian, Shire, Clydesdale	University of California - Davis
Contracted Foal Syndrome	Thoroughbred	University of Kentucky
Cytogenetic Abnormalities/Infertility	Thoroughbred, others	University of Kentucky
Dwarfism	Miniature	University of Kentucky
Extreme Lordosis	Saddlebred	University of Kentucky
Immune Mediated Myopathy	Quarter Horse	University of Minnesota/ Texas A&M
Fell Pony Syndrome	Fell Pony	Texas A & M, Uppsala
Fertility and Reproduction	Various	University of Hannover, Germany
Fracture and Tendon Injury	Thoroughbred	Animal Health Trust, Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom
Laminitis	Thoroughbred	University of Kentucky
Lavender Foal	Arabian	Cornell University
Musculo-Skeletal Defects	French breeds	INRA, France
Navicular Disease	Warmblood	University of Hannover, Germany
Osteochondrosis Dissicans	Dutch Warmblood	University College Dublin, Ireland
Osteochondrosis Dissicans	Thoroughbred	Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom
Osteochondrosis Dissicans	Hannoverian Warmblood	University of Hannover, Germany
Osteochondrosis Dessicans	Standardbred, Quarter Horse, Belgian	University of Minnesota/ Norwegian Veterinary School
Pasture-Associated Laminitis	Ponies and others	Virginia Technical University
Photosensitive Trichothiodystrophy	Curly Horse	Texas A & M University
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy 2	Quarter Horse	University of Minnesota
Recurrent Airway Obstruction	Swiss Warmblood	University of Berne, Switzerland/ Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom
Recurrent Airway Obstruction	Quarter Horse	Michigan State University, Cornell University
Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis	Thoroughbred	Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom
Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis	Thoroughbred	University of Minnesota
Recurrent Uveitis	Appaloosa	University of Minnesota/ Texas A&M University
Sarcoid Tumors	Quarter Horses	Cornell University
Shivers Muscle Tremors	Belgian	University of Minnesota
Stereotypic behavior (Cribbing)	Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, others	University of California - Davis
Suspensory Ligament Desmitis	Paso Fino	Texas A&M University
White Markings	Swiss Franches Montagnes	University of Berne, Switzerland

Gene Expression Projects

Maturation and Repair of Articular Cartilage	Various	University of Kentucky
Allergic Eczema	Icelandic	Swedish Agricultural University
Alternations of Maternal Immunity During Pregnancy	Various	Cornell University
Athletic Performance	Trotters	Swedish Agricultural University
Common Variable Immunodeficiency	Various	Cornell University
Early Embryonic Development	Various	Texas A&M University
Equine Placental Development	Various	Cornell University
Fertility and Reproduction	Various	University of Hannover, Germany
Immunity to Equine Herpes Virus Type 1	Various	Cornell University
Immunity to Rhodococcus equi in foals	Various	Cornell University
Improved Safety of Intra-articular Glucocorticoid Therapy	Various	University of Kentucky
Muscle Response to Exercise	Thoroughbred	University College Dublin, Ireland
Osteochondrosis Dessicans	Standardbred	University of Minnesota/ Norwegian Veterinary School
Recurrent Airway Obstruction	Various	Cornell University
Recurrent Airway Obstruction	Warmblood	University of Berne, Switzerland/ Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom
Recurrent Airway Obstruction	Quarter Horse, others	Michigan State University
Studies of Equine Allergic Diseases	Various	Cornell University
Suspensory Ligament Desmitis	Paso Fino	Texas A&M University

* This list is taken from the Morris Animal Foundation Consortium Project on Equine Medical Genetics. This is a comprehensive project designed to create shared genomic tools and enhance collaboration among laboratories. Scientists also obtain additional funds for research projects related to these topics from other funding agencies, including the American Quarter Horse Association, Home of Rest for Horses, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture,and the American Saddlebred Horse Association.