Horse Color & Genetics - NAAE Communities of Practice
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Transcript Horse Color & Genetics - NAAE Communities of Practice
Horse Color &
Genetics
Reference:
http://www.equinecolor.com
Evans, W., The Horse,2ed. 1990 “Genetics:
Color inheritance, Parentage testing,
Genetic Lethals”, pp.472-536
Black phenotype
Black bodies
Black points
Black horses
without any
brown or red
hairs
Black genotype
1.
Genetic Information
a. Black pigment = Eumelanin (yoo-MEL-a-nin)
b. Black is one of the base colors for horses, the other is red
(Chestnut).
•
•
•
c.
Black at the Extension locus is symbolized by "E", since it is
dominant.
•
d.
e.
f.
g.
All horses will have a black or red base color.
The control for Black is located at the Extension locus and is
dominant at that locus.
Black horses are not capable of producing Bay foals unless the
mate is a Bay or a Chestnut masking Agouti.
Chestnut is also located at the Extension but it is recessive so
it's symbolized by "e".
EE means the horse is genetically (homozygous) and
physically Black*
Ee means the horse is genetically (heterozygous) and
physically Black*
ee means the horse is genetically and physically Chestnut*
*These horses are physically Black or Chestnut when there
are no dilution or modifying genes present.
Chestnut Phenotype
Red bodies
Red points
– Flaxen
• Light mane tail
Sorrel
– Accepted color in
AQHA
Chestnut (red) Genotype
1.
Genetic control of Chestnut is fairly simple to
understand.
a.
b.
Base coat color
The recessive gene (labeled "e") resides at the
Extension locus.
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•
•
2.
EE =Black
Ee =Physically black
ee = Chestnut
Point color on Chestnuts doesn't seem to be
controlled by a single gene.
a.
Flaxen is thought to be caused by a recessive gene
and is unique in that it only affects red pigment.
Gray Phenotype
More accurately Grey is
a modifier
Ongoing process of
depigmentation of the
colored hairs
Grey slowly removes the
pigment from the base
color
Black base coat with
white diluting hairs
throughout the body
Gray Genotype
Grey has the unique ability to mask
everything including any Pinto or Appaloosa
patterns.
No color is safe when Grey is present, as
all horses that carry the Graying gene will
end up a shade of grey or white.
1.
2.
•
For this reason some breeders do not like to
have mares or stallions in their breeding herd.
Gray is dominant
3.
•
•
•
GG = Gray
Gg = physically grey
gg = no dilution (base coat appears)
Red body, ranging from
light to dark
Black legs from the hoof
to the knee and hock
– Sometimes extending
above the knee and
hock.
The mane and tail will
also be black.
– Bay horses generally
have black ear tips also.
"Wild" Bay
– the black points are
restricted lower on the
legs, to varying degrees.
Bay Phenotype
Bay Genotype
Bay
– Black horse with a restrictor or modifying type
gene.
• This locus is called Agouti.
– Agouti restricts the black pigment to the "points" of
the horse, or the lower legs, mane and tail.
Agouti locus
–
–
–
–
A+ = wild bay
A = Bay
at = seal brown (black with brown points)
a = black
Dun
Bay
Cccr
Buckskin
Dun or
DD
Dd
AA
Aat
Perlino
ccrccr
DD
Brown Grulla
DD
Black
Dd
aa
Cccr
Aa
ccrccr
“Black”
EE
Ee
a ta t
a ta
Seal Brown
Cccr
Diluted seal
brown
Grulla
ccrccr
Dd
No
agouti
affect
DD
Red Dun
Chestnut Dd
Cccr
Palomino
Cremello
ccrccr
Bay base color
Dun dilutes
– Bay base color
– Dun dilution
Dun Phenotype
• Black
• Red pigment
• Dun dilution causes
different types of
Dun
Primitive markings
– Dorsal stripe
– It may or may not
have
• Zebra stripes on legs
• Transverse stripe over
wither
Dun Genotype
Dilution gene
Dominant dilution
Affects Black, Chestnut, and Bay
DD, Dd = Dun
dd = no dilution
Grulla Phenotype
Black Dun
Primitive markings
– Dorsal stripe
– Zebra stripes on legs
– Transverse wither
Mousey gray
Grulla
Rare gene
No Agouti gene dilution
– Therefore the Black base coat appears
DD, Dd = Black Dun
dd = no dilution
Palomino
Phenotype
1.
Golden yellow
Ideal
New United States
gold coin
Shades light to dark
Born very light to
white
Pink skin at time but
will darken
Brown to light amber
eyes
It may take several
years for a horse to
turn golden
2.
White mane and tail
85% white
No more than 15%
black/brown hairs
Palomino Genotype
Cream dilution
– Present on the albino locus (not albino)
– Appears in conjunction with Agouti
– Recessive gene--somewhat
– CC = Base coat will appear
• Black, Chestnut, or Bay
– Cccr = Cream dilution
• Palomino
– Base coat = chestnut with dilution
Buckskin Phenotype
Light bay
Gold to yellow coat
Black points
No dorsal stripe
Buckskin Genotype
Cream dilution
– Present on the albino locus (not albino)
– Appears in conjunction with Agouti
– Recessive gene--somewhat
– CC = Base coat will appear
• Black, Chestnut, or Bay
– Cccr = Cream dilution
• Buckskin
– Base coat = bay with dilution
Perlino Phenotype
Light or pink skin
White or cream
colored hair coat
Mane, tail and legs
slightly darker than
the body
Blue eyes
Perlino Genotype
Cream dilution
– Present on the albino locus (not albino)
– Appears in conjunction with Agouti
– Recessive gene--somewhat
– CC = Base coat will appear
• Black, Chestnut, or Bay
– Cccr = Cream dilution
• Palomino or Buckskin
– ccrccr = Highest dilution
• Bay base coat and dilution = Perlino
Cremello Phenotype
Light or pink skin
White or cream
colored hair coat
Mane, tail and legs
crème
Blue eyes
Cremello Genotype
Cream dilution
–
–
–
–
Present on the albino locus (not albino)
Appears in conjunction with Agouti
Recessive gene--somewhat
CC = Base coat will appear
• Black, Chestnut, or Bay
– Cccr = Cream dilution
• Palomino or Buckskin
– ccrccr = Highest dilution
• Chestnut base coat and dilution = Cremello
White trait
Causes patterns
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–
–
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Appaloosa
Overo
Tobiano
Lethal gene?
Modifying Gene
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–
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Masks color
WW = birth terminated
Ww = white hair coat, pink skin
ww = No white, ie. Color expressed
Appaloosa Phenotype/Genotype
Pattern
–
–
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–
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–
Leopard
Blanket
Snowcap
Snowflake
Varnish roan
Frost
Mottled skin
– Grey, pink patterned skin
Striped hooves
White sclera around the
eye
WapWap = Leopard
Wapwap = other pattern
wapwap = no pattern
Overo Phenotype/Genotype
“Frame”
– White framed by color
• Wild irregular pattern
• Less likely symmetrical
– Typically does not cross
the topline
– Crop-outs occur
Recessive gene
– oeoe = Lethal Gene
– oo, ooe = patterned horse
– Ooe, Oo = non Patterned
horse, but carrier
– OO = no pattern
Tobiano Phenotype/Genotype
Vertical pattern crossing
the topline
– White between the ears
and tail
– Head usually solid color
– Round patterns
Dominant Gene
– TT, Tt = Tobiano
– tt = normal expression
(color)
– Both parents should be
Tobiano to get a Tobiano
Lethal Genes
1.
Homozygous
Dominant White
Gene
Result of
heterozygous cross
WW = not born
Ww = white horse
ww = color
expressed
1.
OLWS
Overo Lethal White
Syndrome
–
–
Carried full term
Born totally white
•
These foals have an
incomplete lower colon
•
•
•
•
some may have a tiny
spot or two of color.
Foals cannot defecate
Die of colic shortly after
birth
A positive test of the gene
Recommends to
euthanize
Frame gene
Recessive gene
– oeoe = Lethal Gene
– oo, ooe = patterned horse
– Ooe, Oo = non Patterned
horse, but carrier
– OO = no pattern
Roan
Pattern caused
– White hairs mixing
with colored hairs
Non-progressive color
– Visible by a few months
of age
– May become darker
– Seasonal change
Head, legs, mane and
tail solid color
RnRn =Lethal (before
birth)
Rnrn = Roan
rnrn = no expression