Gene dropping analysis of ancestral contributions and allele survival in Japanese thoroughbred population.
Genetic contributions of nine historically important ancestors and allelic diversity in the Japanese Thoroughbred population were examined by applying the gene dropping simulation to the foals produced from 1978 to 2005. Full pedigree records traced to ancestors (base animals) born around 1890 were used for the simulation. Alleles originated from some of the historically important ancestors were found to be at risk of future extinction, although their genetic contributions to the foal population have increased during the last three decades. The proportion of surviving alleles to the total alleles assigned to the base animals was 8.0% in the foal population in 2005, suggesting that a large part of genetic variability contained in the base animals is extinct in the current population.
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan.
Jun
J
Yamashita
Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-cho, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
Hironori
H
Oki
Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-cho, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
Telhisa
T
Hasegawa
Food Resources Education and Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1348 Uzurano-cho, Kasai, Hyogo 675-2103, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Honda
Department of Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan.
Tetsuro
T
Nomura
Thoroughbred; allele survival; allelic diversity; gene dropping simulation; genetic contribution