Unexpected: The entire genetic map of a domestic horse has revealed surprising similarity to humans




 

A complete blueprint of the domestic horse's genetic code has revealed remarkable similarities with humans, say scientists.

Researchers believe the new gene map could increase understanding of diseases in both humans and the animals.

Horses suffer from more than 90 hereditary diseases that are similar to human disorders.

An international team of scientists analysed DNA from an adult female thoroughbred horse named Twilight.

Her genetic code, or genome, was composed of around 2.7 billion 'letters' - slightly more than the domestic dog, but fewer than humans and cows, the team report.

But the Horse Genome Project scientists were surprised to find that horses and humans shared unusually similar chromosomal arrangements.

Chromosomes are the packages of DNA strands along which genes are located.

During the course of evolution, parts of chromosomes can be reshuffled and switch position. 

This is an unprecedented jump from the 29 per cent of dog genes that display this similarity with humans.

The research was published today in the journal Science.

Horses were first domesticated 4,000 to 6,000 years ago.

The new genome suggests that modern domestic horses are descended from a relatively large number of females, but few males.

Professor James Murray, from the University of California at Davis, U.S., who has worked on the Horse Genome Project since its inception in 1995, said: 'Having access to multiple genome sequences makes it easier to understand all genomes, including our own.

'By looking at the horse genome, we can better understand human biology and human diseases.'





Article: HERE