Comparative Analysis for Genetic Characterization in Korean Native Jeju Horse

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Comparative Genomics
• Animal Genetics

Background:

• The Jeju horse is a native Korean equine species with distinct physical characteristics compared to Thoroughbreds.
• Understanding genetic differences is crucial for breed conservation and characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify genome-wide structural variations between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses.
• To investigate the genetic basis of Jeju horse distinctiveness, particularly regarding immune function.

Main Methods:

• Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of five Jeju horses.
• Bioinformatics analysis to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (INDELs).
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR) for molecular marker validation.

Main Results:

• Identified over 1.2 million SNPs and 228,000 INDELs between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses.
• Detected positive natural selection signatures in the eqCD1a6 immune gene in Jeju horses.
• Developed accurate molecular markers for species identification using identified variants.

Conclusions:

• Significant genomic variation exists between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses.
• The eqCD1a6 gene shows evidence of adaptive evolution in Jeju horses, potentially linked to immunity.
• Molecular markers derived from genomic variants can reliably distinguish between these horse breeds.