Pedigree Query

It's quite fascinating. The researchers did a genetic study and found that one mutated gene that is a recessive in one location causes horses not to trot. It's not a whole gene complex. Just one gene in one place. If that one gene has such a huge influence, think of what other single gene traits there are to find.

http://www.nature.com/news/horse-gait-t ... on-1.11308

We certainly are learning a lot about what makes horses tick.

Huh.

They may have found the gene for pacing. Not the gene for lateral gates. I'd like to see the original paper, not the summary. Sometimes the science writers don't get it exactly right.

There are prehistoric trackways showing lateral gaits in very early equines.

Maybe someone here with academic access could send us the paper, which, one assumes, is in the most recent Nature journal.

It's open access
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v488/n7413/full/nature11399.html

And very interesting indeed.

Thank you for the cite, PZ.