scholarly journals Breeding racehorses: what price good genes?

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair J Wilson ◽  
Andrew Rambaut
Keyword(s):  
Good Genes ◽  
Honest Signal ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Prize Money ◽  
Genetic Quality ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Thoroughbred Racehorses ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Lifetime Earnings

Horse racing is a multi-million pound industry, in which genetic information is increasingly used to optimize breeding programmes. To maximize the probability of producing a successful offspring, the owner of a mare should mate her with a high-quality stallion. However, stallions with big reputations command higher stud fees and paying these is only a sensible strategy if, (i) there is a genetic variation for success on the racecourse and (ii) stud fees are an honest signal of a stallion's genetic quality. Using data on thoroughbred racehorses, and lifetime earnings from prize money (LE) as a measure of success, we performed quantitative genetic analyses within an animal model framework to test these two conditions. Although LE is heritable ( V A =0.299±0.108, Pr=0.002), there is no genetic variance for stud fee and the genetic correlation between traits is therefore zero. This result is supported by an absence of any relationship between stud fees for currently active stallions and the predicted LE for their (hypothetical) offspring. Thus, while there are good genes to be bought, a stallion's fees are not an honest signal of his genetic quality and are a poor predictor of a foal's prize winning potential.

Modeling the Gas Exchange Processes of a Modern Diesel Engine With an Integrated Physics-Based and Data-Driven Approach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Pulpeiro Gonzalez ◽  
King Ankobea-Ansah ◽  
Elena Escuder Milian ◽  
Carrie M. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engine ◽  
Gas Exchange ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Variable Valve Actuation ◽  
Exchange Processes ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Using Data

Abstract The gas exchange processes of engines are becoming increasingly complex since modern engines leverage technologies including variable valve actuation, turbochargers, and exhaust gas recirculation. Control of these many devices and the underlying gas flows is essential for high efficiency engine concepts. If these processes are to be controlled and estimated using model-based techniques, accurate models are required. This work explores a model framework that leverages a data-driven model of the turbocharger along with submodels of the intercooler, intake and exhaust manifolds and engine processes to provide cylinder-specific predictions of the pressure and temperatures of the gases across the system. This model is developed and validated using data from a 2.0 liter VW turbocharged, direct-injection diesel engine and shown to provide accurate prediction of critical gas properties.

scholarly journals ANALYTICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF DEVELOPING A PHENOTYPIC AGING MEASURE: THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK MUST COME FIRST!

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S579-S580
Author(s):  
Michelle Shardell ◽  
Michelle Shardell ◽  
Pei-Lun Kuo ◽  
Jennifer Schrack ◽  
Eleanor M Simonsick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Convergent Construct Validity ◽  
Baltimore Longitudinal Study ◽  
Using Data

Abstract We propose a latent structural model framework where phenotypic aging is a latent variable influenced by chronological age, genes and environment. Within this framework, phenotypic age influences aging-related outcomes and is reflected by latent domains of aging (body composition, energetics, homeostasis, and neural functioning) reflected by biomarkers. First, we validate the framework by selecting age-associated domain-specific biomarkers and assessing internal consistency and convergent construct validity (Cronbach’s alpha). Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, within-domain Cronbach’s alphas ranged from 0.80 to 0.92, supporting convergent construct validity. Second, we evaluate two broad methods for combining biomarkers into one phenotypic age measure customized to different objectives: 1) confirmatory factor analysis of chronological age-adjusted biomarkers to create a measure to identify pleiotropic genetic and environmental mechanisms, and 2) machine-learning methods to create a measure optimizing predictive and concurrent criterion validity. This framework will enable evaluation of candidate biological mechanisms of aging.

scholarly journals Adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more valid cue to immunocompetence in human mate choice

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1751) ◽  
pp. 20122495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus J. Rantala ◽  
Vinet Coetzee ◽  
Fhionna R. Moore ◽  
Ilona Skrinda ◽  
Sanita Kecko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
Secondary Sexual Traits ◽  
Genetic Quality ◽  
Secondary Sexual Trait ◽  
Sexual Traits ◽  
Handicap Hypothesis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Secondary Sexual

According to the ‘good genes’ hypothesis, females choose males based on traits that indicate the male's genetic quality in terms of disease resistance. The ‘immunocompetence handicap hypothesis’ proposed that secondary sexual traits serve as indicators of male genetic quality, because they indicate that males can contend with the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. Masculinity is commonly assumed to serve as such a secondary sexual trait. Yet, women do not consistently prefer masculine looking men, nor is masculinity consistently related to health across studies. Here, we show that adiposity, but not masculinity, significantly mediates the relationship between a direct measure of immune response (hepatitis B antibody response) and attractiveness for both body and facial measurements. In addition, we show that circulating testosterone is more closely associated with adiposity than masculinity. These findings indicate that adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more important cue to immunocompetence in female mate choice.

Characterizing the quantitative genetic contribution to rheumatoid arthritis using data from twins

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. MacGregor ◽  
Harold Snieder ◽  
Alan S. Rigby ◽  
Markku Koskenvuo ◽  
Jaakko Kaprio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Genetic Contribution ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Using Data

Extrapair paternity in the red bishop (Euplectes orix): is there evidence for the good-genes hypothesis?

Behaviour ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
pp. 777-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Klump ◽  
Thomas W.P.Friedl
Keyword(s):  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Paternity Analysis ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Genetic Quality ◽  
Extrapair Paternity ◽  
Previous Season ◽  
Multilocus Dna Fingerprinting

AbstractWe investigated the pattern and frequency of extrapair paternity in a colony of the red bishop, a sexually dimorphic and highly polygynous passerine. In particular, we tested whether there was evidence in support of the good-genes hypothesis, stating that females seek extrapair copulations with high-quality males to enhance the genetic quality of their offspring. Paternity analysis of 432 nestlings from 187 broods using non-radioactive multilocus DNA-fingerprinting revealed that 17.6% of nestlings were extrapair young (EPY) and 30.5% of all broods investigated contained at least one EPY. In a pairwise comparison, extrapair fathers were found to have significantly longer tarsi than the within-pair fathers they cuckolded. Furthermore, extrapair fathers were more often territory owners in the previous season,

scholarly journals A model of the interaction between ‘good genes’ and direct benefits in courtship-feeding animals: when do males of high genetic quality invest less?

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1419) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Bussière
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Simple Model ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Genetic Quality ◽  
Individual Female ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Direct Benefits ◽  
Courtship Feeding

Conflict between mates over the amount of parental investment by each partner is probably the rule except in rare cases of genetic monogamy. In systems with parental care, males may frequently benefit by providing smaller investments than are optimal for individual female partners. Females are therefore expected to choose males that will provide the largest amounts of parental investment. In some species, however, the preferred males provide less care than their rivals. Focusing on species in which males invest by feeding their mates, I use a simple model to demonstrate the conditions under which males preferred by females may have optimal donations that are smaller than those of less–preferred rivals. Pre–mating female choice may sufficiently bias the perception of mate availability of preferred males relative to their rivals such that preferred males gain by conserving resources for future matings. Similarly, ‘cryptic’ biases in favour of high–quality ejaculates by females can compensate for smaller than average donations received from preferred males. However, post–fertilization cryptic choice should not change the optimal donations of preferred males relative to their rivals. I discuss the implications of this work for understanding sexual selection in courtship–feeding animals, and the relevance of these systems to understanding patterns of investment for animals in general.

scholarly journals Rare and common variant discovery by whole-genome sequencing of 101 Thoroughbred racehorses

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teruaki Tozaki ◽  
Aoi Ohnuma ◽  
Mio Kikuchi ◽  
Taichiro Ishige ◽  
Hironaga Kakoi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Genome Sequencing ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Rare Variants ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Variant Discovery ◽  
Functional Variants ◽  
Thoroughbred Racehorses ◽  
Using Data

AbstractThe Thoroughbred breed was formed by crossing Oriental horse breeds and British native horses and is currently used in horseracing worldwide. In this study, we constructed a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) database using data from 101 Thoroughbred racehorses. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed 11,570,312 and 602,756 SNVs in autosomal (1–31) and X chromosomes, respectively, yielding a total of 12,173,068 SNVs. About 6.9% of identified SNVs were rare variants observed only in one allele in 101 horses. The number of SNVs detected in individual horses ranged from 4.8 to 5.3 million. Individual horses had a maximum of 25,554 rare variants; several of these were functional variants, such as non-synonymous substitutions, start-gained, start-lost, stop-gained, and stop-lost variants. Therefore, these rare variants may affect differences in traits and phenotypes among individuals. When observing the distribution of rare variants among horses, one breeding stallion had a smaller number of rare variants compared to other horses, suggesting that the frequency of rare variants in the Japanese Thoroughbred population increases through breeding. In addition, our variant database may provide useful basic information for industrial applications, such as the detection of genetically modified racehorses in gene-doping control and pedigree-registration of racehorses using SNVs as markers.

Gender Competitiveness and Predictability, and Prize Money in Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 2050006
Author(s):  
David Feldman ◽  
Shulamith T. Gross ◽  
Yang Long
Keyword(s):  
Prize Money ◽  
Tennis Players ◽  
Using Data

Tournament competitiveness and predictability of outcomes are inversely related. We introduce a new measure of competitiveness or predictability using discrepancies between tennis players’ seed values and attained ranks in all rounds of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments (GST). Using data from the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association, we study gender-differentiated competitiveness or predictability and its dependence on prize money. Men’s GST are less predictable and more competitive than women’s GST. While competitiveness increases with prize money, the increase for women is significantly larger than for men.

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