Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd., Kent                                                                                    January 22, 2010

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PRESS INFORMATION                                                        

UK BASED GENETICS COMPANY PIONEERS ‘SPEED GENE’ COMBINATION IN RACEHORSES

Thoroughbred Genetics www.thoroughbredgenetics.com is a UK-based company celebrating, in 2010, its 10^th anniversary as the first company in the world to develop and provide DNA-based, genetic tests for racehorse performance.  

In March 2006, we were proud to publish the first peer-reviewed scientific paper linking specific ‘speed' and ‘performance’ genes to aspects of racing performance.  

Scientific paper in Mitochondrion:

http://www.thoroughbredgenetics.com/Mitochondrion6(2006)53-66.pdf

2006 press release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/03/prweb362082.htm

This work achieved coverage in prestigious racing publications, for example, Bloodhorse:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/32855/geneticists-identify-speed-gene-combination

We continue to work for some of the most successful thoroughbred breeders across the world - in Europe (including Ireland), USA, Australasia, Japan and the UAE.  We continue to undertake DNA performance testing of the winners of most of the world’s premier races.  Furthermore, we are continuing to help our clients achieve notable successes in the breeding, racing and sales spheres. 

Our DNA assessments are based on the observation that the thoroughbred breed is relatively genetically diverse. This is evidenced by the diversity in physiques, conformation and performances in the population.  

It is, therefore, impossible that any major performance characteristic, including speed/stamina balance, is controlled by any single gene. Individual genes may correlate with a particular trait but they are generally part of a ‘mixture’ where strong correlations are also found with many other genes. 

Certainly, finding or breeding the desired speed/stamina attributes of a horse is a key to success. That is why our approach to genetic testing is based on the fact that stamina/speed components of performance are multifactorial and cannot be described by single gene assessments. There is likely to be too much trait overlap between single gene versions. 

Our own DNA analyses of stamina and speed are based on multiple gene marker approaches incorporating mitochondrial genes and broader chromosomal assessments. Importantly, using other DNA analyses, we pay particular attention to ensuring that inbreeding is not adversely increased via selection for specific genes or combinations. 

In our 10-year experience, clients require detailed, individual reporting on the genetic performance status for each horse.  Using the information derived from our suite of DNA-based assessments and our practical horse and racing knowledge, we also liaise and advise our clients on how to achieve the best possible outcomes for their breeding and racing animals.  

We seek to help our clients produce or select a ‘complete equine package’ that has been assembled to do a specific racing job and is likely to be genetically adapted to higher levels of success in a particular niche.  

Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd has a range of DNA-based services and reports to suit different objectives therefore prices vary. We realise that in these hard financial times, racing and breeding businesses are stretched like any other. Prices need to be realistic in this economic environment and our most detailed assessments including DNA analyses with summary report and back-up are capped at a competitive GBP380 per animal. 

www.thoroughbredgenetics.com

office@thoroughbredgenetics.com