Abstract
Selection by breeders modifies the morphology, behaviour and performance of domesticated species. Here, we examined signs of selection in Finnhorse, the only native horse breed in Finland. We first searched divergent genomic regions between Finnhorses and other breeds, as well as between different breeding sections of the Finnhorse with data from Illumina Equine SNP70 BeadChip, and then studied several of the detected regions in more detail. We found altogether 35 common outlier SNPs between Finnhorses and other breeds using two different selection tests. Many of the SNPs were located close to genes affecting coat colour, performance, size, sugar metabolism, immune response and olfaction. We selected genes affecting coat colour (KIT, MITF, PMEL), performance (MSTN) and locomotion (DMRT3) for a more detailed examination. In addition, we looked for, and found, associations with height at withers and SNPs located close to gene LCORL. Among the four breeding sections of Finnhorses (harness trotters, riding horses, draught horses and pony‐sized horses), a single SNP located close to the DMRT3 gene was significantly differentiated and only between harness trotters and pony‐sized horses.
Highlights
Domestication fundamentally changes the behaviour, morphology, physiology and performance of animal species through selective breeding—breeders’ decisions of which individuals will be allowed to reproduce
Examples of large phenotypic differences between breeds and between wild and domesticated animals are the huge variations in coat colour (Cieslak et al, 2011) or body size, which are common in domesticated species, but often show limited variation within breeds
Using BayeScan and Arlequin, we detected 42 and 55 FST outlier SNPs, respectively, between Finnhorses and other breeds, of which several were of special interest as they were connected to traits, which (a) were strongly selected for at the dawn of the Finnhorse breed, (b) are related to the usage of the breed or (c) are associated with metabolism and immunity system
Summary
Domestication fundamentally changes the behaviour, morphology, physiology and performance of animal species through selective breeding—breeders’ decisions of which individuals will be allowed to reproduce. This artificial selection is often directional, decreasing the amount of genetic diversity within breeds. Different breeds of a given domesticated species can vary considerably due to artificial diversifying selection. Examples of large phenotypic differences between breeds and between wild and domesticated animals are the huge variations in coat colour (Cieslak et al, 2011) or body size (e.g., in dogs, Canis lupus familiaris; Beale & Ostrander, 2012), which are common in domesticated species, but often show limited variation within breeds. Captive breeding may on the one hand decrease overall phenotypic and genetic variation and on the other hand increase it for certain traits
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Schedule a callMore From: Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie
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