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Height Prediction in Ponies
| Acronym: | HEIGHTP |
| Gene: | HMGA2 |
| Mutation: | c.83G>A |
| 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 such as ponies. A pony is a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament and it is important for breeders to be able to predict the height of their offspring. The ponies are usually assigned to three height groups: small (~ 84 cm), medium small (~ 98 cm), and normal (~ 104 cm). Changes in height in ponies and other miniature horses have been associated with a genetic mutation in the high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) gene included in various biological processes, such as the cell cycle, DNA damage repair process, senescence, etc. The missense mutation in the HMGA2 gene affects the DNA binding domain of the protein, causing a decrease in the binding affinity of HMGA2 to DNA, resulting in a smaller body size and height of a pony.
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 HMGA2 gene can be considered a major gene for the height of smaller horses and ponies. Ponies that do not carry a mutated HMGA2 gene will be at normal height. Those with one copy of the mutated gene will be slightly smaller or medium-small, and ponies with two mutated genes will be smaller 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. |
Slightly smaller - Medium smaller |
Horse has one copy of the gene with the mutation and will likely be slightly smaller or medium smaller. |
Smaller |
Horse has two copies of the gene with the mutation and will likely be smaller. |
References:
Frischknecht, M., Jagannathan, V., Plattet, P., Neuditschko, M., Signer-Hasler, H., Bachmann, I., … Leeb, T. (2015). A Non-Synonymous HMGA2 Variant Decreases Height in Shetland Ponies and Other Small Horses. PLOS ONE, 10(10), e0140749. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140749
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.