How Many Genes Control Coat Color In Horses?

The basic coat colors of horses include chestnut, bay, and black. These are controlled by the interaction between two genes: Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP). MC1R, which has also been referred to as the extension or red factor locus, controls the production of red and black pigment.

How do genetics affect the color of the horse?

Many colors are possible, but all variations are produced by changes in only a few genes. The “base” colors of the horse are determined by the Extension locus, which in recessive form (e) creates a solid chestnut or “red” coat. When dominant (E), a horse is black.

How many genes do horses have?

The equine gene set is similar to other eutherian mammals and has a predicted 20,322 protein-coding genes (Ensembl build 52.2b) of which 16,617, 17,106 and 17,106 have evidenced orthology to human, mouse and dog, respectively.

What color gene is most dominant in horses?

Bay is the dominant phenotype (the physical expression of a genetic trait) between the two, and its genotype is expressed by either E/Aa or E/AA. Black is the recessive coat color, meaning it is always homozygous and expressed asE/aa. All other equine coat colors and patterns stem from these base coat colors.

What is the W 20 gene in horses?

W20 is a mutation on the KIT gene; it’s part of the “Dominant White” family of mutations—more than 20 exist—that can create or modify white spotting patterns in horses. An ancient mutation, W20 is wide-spread.

What are the 5 basic coat colors of a horse?

While there are dozens of specific colors, there are only four or five basic coat colors a horse can have: black, bay, brown, and chestnut (sometimes gray or dun is also included).

How is coat color inherited?

Each animal inherits two alleles for coat colour, one from each parent, with the Black allele being dominant over both the Red and Wild Type alleles.

What genes are dominant in horses?

Dominant gene – an allele that is expressed when carried by only one of a pair of chromosomes. For example, the e allele for the black versus chestnut coat color is dominant, while e is recessive. Horses that have one copy of the dominant e allele (ee or ee) will be black unless that color is modified by other genes.

What genes make a black horse?

The genetics behind the black horse are relatively simple. The color black is primarily controlled by two genes: Extension and Agouti. The functional, dominant allele of the extension gene (labeled “E”) enables the horse to produce black pigment in the hair.

Why do horses have different coat Colours?

Genetics. It turns out that the coat and tail colour are genetically predisposed. Coats such as: dun, sable, grey, spotted, palomino or bay are conditioned by the combination of five genes. Other combinations decide whether the horse will be of piebald or white coat.

What is the most common coat color in horses?

Bay
Bay is the most common color in most horse breeds; it’s their base color. Bay horses typically have brown bodies and a black point coloration in their tail, mane, muzzles, lower legs, and rims around their ears.

What is red gene in horses?

The extension gene, or red factor, determines whether a horse will have a chestnut base coat color or a black or bay base coat color. Phenotype: Red factor is responsible for determining whether a horse will have a chestnut base coat color or a black or bay base coat color.

Is black a dominant gene in horses?

Black (“E”) is dominant to red (“e”). Therefore, a horse with the genotype “E/e” (one black and one red allele) has a black base color, but can produce either black or red base offspring.

What is the W10 gene in horses?

Breeds appropriate for testing: W5, W22 = Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred crosses. W10 = Quarter Horses and related breeds including Paint Horses, Appaloosas, and Pony of the Americas. W20 has been identified in many horse breeds so nearly all breeds are appropriate for testing.

What is the W22 gene in horses?

W22 dominant white (W22)
W22 is a version of the KIT gene that produces a partial to completely white coat pattern. W22 is thought to have originated in an USA-bred Thoroughbred mare called Not Quite White, born in 1989. Not Quite White had at least two white foals. The most well-known is Airdrie Apache (a stallion).

What is the W32 gene in horses?

W32 was found in a family of American Paint Horses, and seems to have a mild effect leading to high white on the limbs, belly spots and white facial markings. It is unclear whether the SNP described is actually the causative mutation, or merely linked to it.

How many coat colors are there for horses?

four
There are only four basic horse colors. Bay, brown, black and chestnut. Everything else is a variation on these four colors…or the absence of color…

What is a two colored horse called?

A pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color. The distinction between “pinto” and “solid” can be tenuous, as so-called “solid” horses frequently have areas of white hair. Various cultures throughout history appear to have selectively bred for pinto patterns.

What is the best horse coat color?

The most desirable horse color is bay, followed by chestnut, dark brown, and black. Among racehorses, there are many successful colors: bay, chestnut, and brown horses win a lot of races. Pure white is the rarest horse color.

What gene controls fur color?

MC1R gene: MedlinePlus Genetics.

What gene determines fur color?

The co-dominant red gene (O/o), found on the X chromosome, determines whether there will be any red variations to fur color or not. This gene encodes phaeomelanin. The dominant allele O codes for orange tones, and the recessive allele o for the non-orange pigmentation (black or brown).