Genetics news | Genetics news

Each combination gives a horse a different racing aptitude, i.e.

one horse may possess the gene combination of a sprinter, while another horse will have a combination best suited to a distance of 1½ miles.

These gene combinations form part of a group that is inherited solely from the dam (foal’s mother) on a molecule called mitochondrial DNA.

The genes contribute to biochemical systems involved in energy release and respiration in the muscles and have a direct impact on the optimum performance of a racehorse.

Thoroughbred Dr Harrison and his team have been able to identify the genetic types of all big race winners in the major racing nations going back over the last 100 years.

In the Mitochondrion study, trends were observed for the genetic types of winners of 21 of the UK’s premier races indicate significant leanings of certain genetic types and carriers of specific gene variants to perform well over specific distances.

From this data the study can determine that a potential Breeders’ Cup Turf win...

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Kleinsmidt's investigation of the constitution and how it related to racial profiling of blood was in response to the public furore that erupted in 2004 when an SA National Blood Service (SANBS) nurse discovered risk categorisations being used by the service to eliminate black donors.

The debate was fuelled later when President Thabo Mbeki's donated unit of blood was discarded.

The minister of health at the time slammed SANBS's risk management as racist and demanded that it be eliminated.

The policy has been shelved, and nucleic acid amplification testing (Nat) introduced.

With conventional testing, antibodies to HIV have to build up in the blood for as long as six weeks or longer after infection until they reach a detectable level.

The Nat test reduces this "window period" to between five and 11 days.

'This would attract dangerous donors'Nat testing costs the country an additional R150-million a year and Kleinsmidt wondered whether that was an appropriate use of public health money when racial profi...