›› 2018, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (10): 2670-2680.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2018.10.003

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Research Advances on Functional Genes of Main Economic Traits in Horses and Donkeys

HOU Haobin1, LI Haijing2, ZHANG Li1   

  1. 1. Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Donge 252201, China
  • Received:2018-05-19 Online:2018-10-20 Published:2018-10-20

Abstract:

Horses and donkeys are the important herbivorous livestock in China,which play an important role in the historical changes and production in human life.Prior to the mechanization of agriculture,human used horses and donkeys for riding and carrying goods.With the progress of mechanization degree and transportation,the service function of horses and donkeys have gradually decreased.The modern horse industry mainly focuses competition,leisure and entertainment,and by-product processing,while the donkey industry concentrates on the development and utilization of skin,meat,milk and biological products.The economic traits of horses mainly include body size,coat color,race ability,disease,extreme environmental adaptability,etc.On donkey,growth,skin and lactation traits are more concerned.By means of genomics and bioinformatics,we can effectively and accurately identify genes related to main economic traits in horses and donkeys.The association genes with body weight and size are located in the LCORL/NCAPG gene region.The MSTN gene is associated with the development of skeletal muscle,which in turn affects horse racing performance.The genes related to dwarf traits include HMGA2 and TBX3 genes in Shetland and Debao ponies,and the mutation of the ACAN gene is the causal mutation for the dwarf symptoms of the Shetland pony.The DMRT3 gene mutation affects the alternate gaits.KIT gene is associated with the white spot phenotype in coat color,MC1R gene has been shown to be the main gene responsible for chestnut color,ASIP gene is associated with black hair.The EDNRB gene mutations cause lethal white foal syndrome.EPAS1 gene and mitochondrial NADH6 gene play a key role in the adaptive evolution of the plateau.The authors review the research progress of functional genes related to main economic traits in horses and donkeys,and the future research of Equus genomics are discussed,so that the studies of molecular genetics and breeding in horses and donkeys are better provided to more researchers.

Key words: horses; donkeys; economic traits; functional gene

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