Facts About Equine Genetics

. DNA is found in the nucleus of cells. Samples submitted for genetic testing are usually hair, blood, or tissue. Hair samples must contain the “bulb,” which looks like a tiny ball at the root of the hair. This is where the DNA is located. When submitting hair samples, make sure to pull, not cut, the hairs so the bulb is present. Blood and tissue samples require additional steps, such as an anticoagulant (for blood) or freezing (for tissues). Always follow the testing laboratory’s instructions for sample submission and contact them with questions.

2. There is no age limit for DNA testing. An animal’s DNA profile does not change over time, so a horse can be reliably tested at any age. Genetic tests can be performed for foals, but it is recommended to submit 30 to 50 tail hairs since the bulbs on foal hair are smaller than adults and more are needed.

3. Parentage testing is based on exclusion. The offspring, dam, and potential sires are tested for a number of markers, and the offspring is compared to the potential parents for each marker. The offspring must have received one allele for each marker from each parent. It is possible to do parentage testing with a sample from only one parent (about 95 percent accurate), but results are more accurate (greater than 99 percent) with both. Accuracy will decrease when the potential parents are part of a large group of closely related animals.

4. SynchroGait™ tests for a genetic variant that facilitates lateral gaits (ambling and pace). Owners can use this test to identify the natural ability of young horses for gait performance and use the results to make training decisions. Breeders can use the test to select for or against this mutation, depending on what is desirable in their chosen discipline.