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Height Prediction in Warmbloods
| Acronym: | HEIGHTW |
| Gene: | LCORL |
| Mutation: | g.107374136T>C |
| Inheritance: | Multifactorial |
| Sample type: | WBE (Whole Blood EDTA), HA (Hairs - with roots) |
Genetics and characteristics
Height is an important trait in horses and an essential parameter to improve marketability, function, and performance and has an important criterion for the evaluation of different horse breeds. Generally, larger warmblood horses within each height class possess a competitive advantage and are usually assigned to three height groups: normal height (~ 159 cm), medium height:(~ 164 cm) and tall height (~ 169 cm). Changes in height in larger horses have been associated with a genetic mutation of a single basepair change in the LCORL-regulatory region. LOCRL gene encodes a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor compressor-like protein that is part of a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that modulate several biological processes. The missense mutation in the LCORL gene affects the DNA binding domain of the protein causing a decrease in the binding affinity of LCORL to DNA.
Height in horses is in general a multifactorial trait with high heritability and polygenic mode of inheritance. Several genetic loci have a comparatively large effect on height and body size, but the LCORL gene can be considered a major gene for the height of warmblood horses. Horses that do not carry a mutated LCORL gene will be at normal height. Those with one and two copies of the mutated gene will likely be taller than like-bred siblings or horse breeds. Early detection by genetic testing can help identify carriers of the mutation and help breeders in further selection of mating pairs.
Results Reported As
Test Result |
Interpretation of test result |
Normal height |
Horse does not have the gene with the mutation and will have a normal height. |
Likely taller - Carrier of normal height |
Horse has one copy of the gene with the mutation and will likely be taller. |
Likely taller |
Horse has two copies of the gene with the mutation and will likely be taller. |
References:
Metzger, J., Schrimpf, R., Philipp, U., Distl, O. (2013). Expression Levels of LCORL Are Associated with Body Size in Horses. PLoS ONE, 8(2), e56497. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056497
Tetens, J., Widmann, P., Kühn, C., Thaller, G.: A genome-wide association study indicates LCORL/NCAPG as a candidate locus for withers height in German Warmblood horses. Anim Genet 44:467-71, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23418885. DOI: 10.1111/age.12031.
Signer-Hasler, H., Flury, C., Haase, B., Burger, D., Simianer, H., Leeb, T., Rieder, S.: A genome-wide association study reveals loci influencing height and other conformation traits in horses. PLoS One 7:e37282, 2012. Pubmed reference: 22615965. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037282.