Advanced Science (Apr 2025)
Genomic Insights into Post‐Domestication Expansion and Selection of Body Size in Ponies
- Xingzheng Li,
- Zihao Wang,
- Min Zhu,
- Binhu Wang,
- Shaohua Teng,
- Jing Yan,
- Haoyu Wang,
- Pengxiang Yuan,
- Shuwei Cao,
- Xiaolu Qu,
- Zhen Wang,
- Kai Zhan,
- Md. Panir Choudhury,
- Xintong Yang,
- Qi Bao,
- Sang He,
- Lei Liu,
- Pengju Zhao,
- Jicai Jiang,
- Hai Xiang,
- Lingzhao Fang,
- Zhonglin Tang,
- Yuying Liao,
- Guoqiang Yi
Affiliations
- Xingzheng Li
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Zihao Wang
- Animal Husbandry Research Institute Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture Nanning 530002 China
- Min Zhu
- Animal Husbandry Research Institute Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture Nanning 530002 China
- Binhu Wang
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Shaohua Teng
- Animal Husbandry Research Institute Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture Nanning 530002 China
- Jing Yan
- Animal Husbandry Research Institute Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture Nanning 530002 China
- Haoyu Wang
- Nanning Capitano Equestrian Club Co., Ltd Nanning 530000 China
- Pengxiang Yuan
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Shuwei Cao
- Animal Husbandry Research Institute Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture Nanning 530002 China
- Xiaolu Qu
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Zhen Wang
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Kai Zhan
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences Hefei 230031 China
- Md. Panir Choudhury
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Xintong Yang
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Qi Bao
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Sang He
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Lei Liu
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Pengju Zhao
- Hainan Institute Zhejiang University Yongyou Industry Park, Yazhou Bay Sci‐Tech City Sanya 572000 China
- Jicai Jiang
- Department of Animal Science North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
- Hai Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding School of Life Science and Engineering Foshan University Foshan 528225 China
- Lingzhao Fang
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics Aarhus University Aarhus 8000 Denmark
- Zhonglin Tang
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- Yuying Liao
- Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute Nanning 530001 China
- Guoqiang Yi
- Shenzhen Branch Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi‐omics of MARA Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shenzhen 518124 China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202413023
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 12,
no. 16
pp. n/a – n/a
Abstract
Abstract Horse domestication revolutionizes human civilization by transforming transportation, agriculture, and warfare patterns. Despite extensive studies on modern domestic horse origins, the intricate demographic history and genetic signatures underlying pony size remain unexplored. Here, a high‐quality genome assembly of the Chinese Debao pony is presented, and 452 qualified individuals from 64 horse breeds worldwide are extensively analyzed. The authors’ results reveal the conservation of ancient components in East Asian horses and close relationships between Asian horses and Western pony lineages. Genetic analyses suggest an Asian paternal origin for European pony breeds. These pony‐sized horses share close genetic affinities, potentially attributed to their early expansion and adaptation to local environments. In addition, promising cis‐regulatory elements influencing horse withers height by regulating genes such as RFLNA and FOXO1 are identified. Overall, this study provides insightful perspectives on the dispersal history and genetic determinants underlying body size in ponies, offering broader implications for horse population management and improvement.
Keywords
