Horse Genetics Resources
Did you know that nearly thirty different types of dominant white have been found in horses so far? They are all different mutations in one gene, called the KIT gene. Horses are unique among domesticated animals in having so many different variants…
Here’s how to take a hair sample from your horse for testing In the PHG lab we start your testing by extracting DNA from the horse hair samples you send us. This is what our instructions say about taking the sample: “Choose…
How do we improve a test? Mostly we tweak it to improve the sensitivity or robustness. We want all our tests to work perfectly with tiny amounts of DNA. We also want clear and accurate results no matter whether we use a…
We are excited to finally have a test up and running for the Colourful Gambler line of Australian dominant white horses. This specific mutation has been assigned the name W27. Just like W22 (see previous post), W27 can cause variable amounts of…
We’ve updated the material on our website for SW2 (with thanks to Bernard O’Sullivan who pointed out that it’s not homozygous lethal). #SplashedWhite2 #SW2 #KatieGun #PaintHorse #PracticalHorseGenetics http://practicalhorsegenetics.com.au/index.php?test=sw2
W13 is a dominant white gene that was first identified in a Quarter Horse x Peruvian Paso horse in the USA. But this guy – Sweetwater Picasso Painted Wild, born in 1983 in the USA and imported to Australia – was found…
The splashed white 2 (SW2) gene causes white markings. They can range from minor facial markings and socks to the white face, blue eyes, white legs and white belly of a typical boldly marked splash horse. It is rare but possible for…
Our roan test is a marker test. This means that rather than testing for the mutation that causes roan, we test for a genetic variant that’s strongly associated with roan in a number of breeds. Hopefully in the future we will find…
We use DNA from hair roots to test for single-gene traits such as inherited disorders and coat colours. DNA in hair samples can last for five years or more if you treat it like potatoes: keep them dry and in the dark….
We have a new, improved version of the red/black (aka extension) test! This means we’ve been able to drop the price to bring it in line with all our other coat colour tests. For those who haven’t tested with us before, it’s…