Equine Genomics

Equine genetics has long been studied as a means of improving traits such as performance capabilities and coat color in horses. Dramatic advances in genomics and high–throughput DNA analysis technologies have significantly increased our understanding of the molecular biology of growth, development, and disease. Equine Genomics f ocuses on the significant advances in genome–mapping and genomic technologies and their applications to the improvement of equine traits of economic significance. Equine Genomics provies broad–ranging coverage of advances in genome science as applied to horses. The opening chapters provide Strong foundational information on defining the equine genome, the development of genetic linkage, physical and comparative maps, as well as whole genome sequences. The following several chapters then look at the underlying genetics of key traits, such as reproduction, coat color, performance, and a variety of key diseases impacting horses. The final chapter looks at equine mitochondrial DNA and its implication on equid evolution and genetic diversity.  A timely and vitally important resource, Equine Genomics, is an essential title of animal scientists, genomic researchers, veterinary scientists, equine breeders, and industry personnel.

Contributors ix Preface xi Chapter 1 Defining the equine genome: The nuclear genome and the mitochondrial genome 1 Bhanu P. Chowdhary Chapter 2 Genetic linkage maps 11 June Swinburne and Gabriella Lindgren Chapter 3 Physical and comparative maps 49 Terje Raudsepp and Bhanu P. Chowdhary Chapter 4 The Y–chromosome 73 Terje Raudsepp, Nandina Paria, and Bhanu P. Chowdhary Chapter 5 Unexpected structural features of the equine major histocompatibility complex 93 Loren C. Skow and Candice L. Brinkmeyer–Langford Chapter 6 Assembly and analysis of the equine genome sequence 103 Claire M. Wade Chapter 7 Genomic tools and resources: Development and applications of an equine SNP genotyping array 113 Molly McCue and Jim Mickelson Chapter 8 Functional genomics 125 Stephen J. Coleman, Michael J. Mienaltowski, and James N. MacLeod Chapter 9 Coat color genomics 143 Samantha A. Brooks and Rebecca R. Bellone Chapter 10 Genomics of skin disorders 155 Amy E. Young, Stephen D. White, and Danika L. Bannasvch Chapter 11 Genomics of muscle disorders 171 James R. Mickelson, Stephanie J. Valberg, Carrie J. Finno, and Molly E. McCue Chapter 12 Genomics of skeletal disorders 187 Ottmar Distl Chapter 13 Genomics of reproduction and fertility 199 Terje Raudsepp, Pranab J. Das and Bhanu P. Chowdhary Chapter 14 Genetics of equine neurologic disease 217 Carrie J. Finno and Monica Aleman Chapter 15 Molecular genetic testing and karyotyping in the horse 241 M. C. T. Penedo and Terje Raudsepp Chapter 16 Genomics of laminitis 255 Jim K. Belknap Chapter 17 Genomics of performance 265 Emmeline W. Hill, Lisa M. Katz, and David E. MacHugh Chapter 18 Genomics of the circadian clock 285 Barbara A. Murphy Chapter 19 Mitochondrial genome: Clues about the evolution of extant equids and genomic diversity of horse breeds 311 Cynthia C. Steiner, Kateryna D. Makova, and Oliver A. Ryder Index 323 Color plate is located between pages 216 and 217.

Bhanu Chowdhary is a Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health at Texas A & M University.