Sam Pittman and Ashley Bui

Explain the importance of genetics in relation to horses.

LEQ:

The Basics Genes – Basic unit

of inheritance Alleles – Different

forms of the same gene

Chromosomes – Carry genetic information

DNA – Part of chromosomes; also carries genetics

Chromosomes & Genes

Horses have 32 chromosome pairs, which means they have 64 chromosomes total

Where are…DNA found?Genes found?Chromosomes found?

DNA

Structure of DNA How does coding

work?Genetic codes

Genes

AllelesWhere are they found?What do they do?What are they?

Heredity vs. Environment Qualitative traits

PhenotypesGenotypes3 types of gene action

Quantitative traitsEnvironment’s effect

Genotypic vs. phenotypic expressionsGenotypes are the actual hereditary traitsPhenotypes are the traits you can see

Horse Improvement Programs

Selection is based on phenotypes Basic principles Scored on:

Front limbsHind limbsHead, neck, body, and balanceAthletic movementType

Coat Color

Coat color genesW geneG geneE geneA geneC geneD geneTO gene

Coat Color GenesGene Alleles Observed Coat Color

W Ww

ww: Horse is fully colored.

G Gg

gg: Horse does not grow gray hair as they age.

E Ee

E: Horse has black hair.ee: Skin is black, but

appears red.

A Aa

A: Controls distribution of black hair.

aa: Distributes black hair evenly.

C C CC: Horse is fully colored.

D Dd

dd: Horse has unmixed coat color.

TO TOto

toto: No spots.

Genomes

Complete set of instructions for making organisms

XX and XY

Genome

Genetic Diseases

Defects in DNA Failure to important proteins Abnormal proteins Examples of diseases include:

Parrot mouthConnective tissue diseaseCataracts

Activity!

For this activity, you will be producing codes that make a certain colored horse. For example, if we ask you to make a white horse, your code will only consist of the W gene.

Give us a…

Gray horse!

G

Give us a…

Bay horse!

E, A, CC, dd, gg, ww, toto

Give us a…

Black horse!

E, aa, CC, dd, gg, ww, toto