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RNA sequencing as a powerful tool in searching for genes influencing health and performance traits of horses

  • Animal Genetics • Review
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Abstract

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) by next-generation technology is a powerful tool which creates new possibilities in whole-transcriptome analysis. In recent years, with the use of the RNA-seq method, several studies expanded transcriptional gene profiles to understand interactions between genotype and phenotype, supremely contributing to the field of equine biology. To date, in horses, massive parallel sequencing of cDNA has been successfully used to identify and quantify mRNA levels in several normal tissues, as well as to annotate genes. Moreover, the RNA-seq method has been applied to identify the genetic basis of several diseases or to investigate organism adaptation processes to the training conditions. The use of the RNA-seq approach has also confirmed that horses can be useful as a large animal model for human disease, especially in the field of immune response. The presented review summarizes the achievements of profiling gene expression in horses (Equus caballus).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Cracow, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059, Cracow, Poland

    Monika Stefaniuk

  2. Laboratory of Genomics, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083, Balice, Poland

    Katarzyna Ropka-Molik

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  1. Monika Stefaniuk
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  2. Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
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Correspondence to Monika Stefaniuk.

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Communicated by: Maciej Szydlowski

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Stefaniuk, M., Ropka-Molik, K. RNA sequencing as a powerful tool in searching for genes influencing health and performance traits of horses. J Appl Genetics 57, 199–206 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-015-0320-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-015-0320-7

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