Researchers and graduate students from the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Gluck Equine Research Center attended the annual Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG), held Jan. 9 through 13 in San Diego, Calif., to share equine genomic research and resources with scientists from around the globe.

Major past accomplishments of the workshop include the creation of an equine genetic map and arranging for sequencing of the horse by the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Continued activities of the conference this year included developing equine genomic information and tools. Many of the presentations also dealt with application of those tools to address diverse health problems for the horse.

"An amazing new chapter in equine biomedical health research is now under way," said James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight Chair, professor of Veterinary Science at the Gluck Equine Research Center and director of the Equine Initiative at UK. "Equine genomics has entered an exciting phase of research application. Our understanding of the equine genome has progressed to the point where scientists can identify and study genetic determinants and molecular mechanisms of important horse diseases and traits of interest with unprecedented sensitivity, specificity, and technical efficiency