University of Minnesota at the forefront of groundbreaking equine genetic research

In what could be a transformative advancement for equine science, researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine are contributing to a groundbreaking project that aims to map the genetic blueprints of 13 horse breeds and their relatives. This 3-year project, funded by a $765,000 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will enable genetic insights that could enhance health, performance, and disease prevention in horses—and provide a model for similar advances for other agricultural animals.

The project is a collaborative effort among several prominent equine research programs. The University of Kentucky and University of Minnesota are leading the initiative, with co-principal investigators from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Texas A&M University. The University of Minnesota team, which includes faculty members Molly McCue and Sian Durward-Akhurst, along with postdoctoral fellow Jonah Cullen, is making critical contributions to all aspects of the study.

Part of  the Minnesota team’s work is the development of the first equine pangenome, an effort spearheaded by McCue, Cullen (who also received a USDA fellowship for the work), and Durward-Akhurst, in collaboration with researchers from the other institutions. Durward-Akhurst will also focus on mapping data from over 1,900 horses representing more than 70 breeds, to catalog the genetic variation found in these breeds relative to the 13 breeds that make up the core of the pangenome.

This work will vastly improve current understanding of the equine genome and how genome structure differs between individual horses and breeds, ultimately aiding in the identification of genetic variants linked to important traits and diseases. 

In addition to the pangenome,  the second major goal focuses on constructing the first equine pantranscriptome, with the work being done by Hayden Hamsher, a PhD student working under McCue. This will provide a deeper understanding of gene activity at the tissue level, enhancing the annotation of the equine genome and offering new insights into how specific genes function in different contexts. 

“The U of MN team is integrally involved in the creation of the pangenome using genome assemblies created by our collaborators in Kentucky, Texas, and Nebraska and working closely with the team at TAMU to understand the implications behind the pangenome discoveries and how these discoveries are potentially related to horses world-wide,” explains McCue. “Similarly, the pantranscriptome work relies on data generated by Dr. Durward-Akhurst and I, and the teams in Kentucky and Nebraska,” 

The project’s ultimate goal is to generate accurate genome assemblies for 13 horse breeds that represent major branches of the domestic horse family tree. The research will also extend to include a zebra and donkey, providing a broader understanding of equid genetics. By comparing these genomes, the team aims to identify the genetic factors influencing key traits across different breeds.

The research is expected to yield significant benefits for the equine community and other agricultural animals, including:

• Improved health and performance: The work will help identify genetic factors that can enhance breeding programs, leading to healthier, more resilient animals.
• Disease prevention: By pinpointing genetic markers linked to diseases, the research will enable early detection and prevention strategies.
• Enhanced understanding: The project will deepen the understanding of equine biology and evolution, setting the stage for future genetic research in other species.

“Creation of these resources for the horse will profoundly improve our ability as researchers to identify causative variants for important genetic diseases and improve our understanding of  genetic diversity, especially within and between breeds,” Durward-Akhurst describes. “The impacts will be beyond this, with computational tools and resources that can be used in any animal species leading to advances in multiple animal species.”

This initiative not only highlights the University of Minnesota’s commitment to advancing agricultural science but also underscores the importance of collaborative research in addressing complex genetic questions.

“This research capitalizes on previous work conducted at Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas A&M, and is the natural progression of work done by our teams over the last decade,” McCue says. “It's exciting to come together to combine data and expertise to create the most impactful equine genomics resource to date—a resource that will have a huge impact on dozens of future discoveries.”