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Long Frozen DNA Shows How Humans Made Horses Faster - and
The WaPo ^ | April 27 2017 | Ben Guarino

Posted on 04/28/2017 4:23:08 PM PDT by SteveH

At some point in the past two millennia — peanuts on an evolutionary time scale — humans transformed their horses into equine speed demons. Selective breeding had a price, though, beyond $30,000 vials of pedigreed racehorse sperm. Unhelpful mutations plagued the animals. The current population of domesticated horses is about 55 million, but at some point in their history, their genetic diversity crashed. The Y chromosomes of all the world's stallions are now quite similar, suggesting that only a relatively few males were the ancestors of today's horses.

Humans have not always bred so selectively, according to a study published in the journal Science on Thursday. Horse domestication began about 5,500 years ago. Ancient equestrians “were not interested in superfast animals. They were more interested in diversity and potential,” said Ludovic Orlando, a professor of molecular archaeology at the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark and an author of the new study.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; domestication; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; horse; horses; huntergatherers
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1 posted on 04/28/2017 4:23:08 PM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

Whips have DNA?


2 posted on 04/28/2017 4:25:16 PM PDT by relictele (`)
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To: SteveH

Muslim Horse breeding involves a step stool......


3 posted on 04/28/2017 4:28:41 PM PDT by GraceG ("It's better to have all the Right Enemies, that it is to have all the Wrong Friends.")
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To: SteveH
Long Frozen DNA Shows How Humans Made Horses Faster

It started when we ate the slow ones.

4 posted on 04/28/2017 4:29:56 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (TANSTAAFL)
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To: SteveH
Ancient equestrians “were not interested in superfast animals. They were more interested in diversity and potential,”

Just can't not inject modern PC nostrums into anything and everything, apparently. They weren't "interested" in diversity, it was just pretty much physical reality with geographic limitations and restricted travel for most. I'd say they were most interested in docility and utility, myself.

5 posted on 04/28/2017 4:35:51 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: SteveH; Lazamataz

Humans have not always bred so selectively..

Tell me about it. From 18 to 30 I...well...forget it.


6 posted on 04/28/2017 4:36:50 PM PDT by dp0622 (IThe only thing an upper crust Conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: relictele

And spurs too?


7 posted on 04/28/2017 4:41:47 PM PDT by jmacusa (Dad may be in charge but mom knows whats going on.)
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To: SteveH
beyond $30,000 vials of pedigreed racehorse sperm

I don't believe that any horse that is the product of artificial insemination would be considered a thoroughbred by the Jockey Club, and so would not be eligible to race at any US Thoroughbred Racetrack, and probably not at any Thoroughbred Racetrack worldwide.

ML/NJ

8 posted on 04/28/2017 4:42:18 PM PDT by ml/nj
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To: SteveH

I have a Spanish Mustang in the barn.Anyone who needs a horse faster than her must have a death wish.The Spanish ranchers sure knew how to breed horses.Smart,fast,and tough.


9 posted on 04/28/2017 4:45:18 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (Every time a toilet flushes,another liberal gets his brains.)
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To: SteveH

I seem to remember reading many years ago that all thoroughbred race horses today descend from Nashua (IIRC). Morgan horses also have a specific progenitor. But I wouldn’t think this applies to all breeds.


10 posted on 04/28/2017 4:49:29 PM PDT by Twotone (Truth is hate to those who hate truth.)
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To: Farmer Dean

My father had one of those . Quickest best horse you have ever seen around cattle. Came from West Texas. Would stop on a dime at any small stream/pond or water of any kind. Desert horse did not understand free flowing water. Tossed .many riders

.


11 posted on 04/28/2017 4:54:54 PM PDT by nomorelurker
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To: ml/nj

Artificial insemination is widely used in horse and other animal breeding.


12 posted on 04/28/2017 5:00:08 PM PDT by iowamark
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To: nomorelurker
Interesting study is the Mongols Warrior Horses ...and Riders. Perfected riding with pitch perfect aim on their targets in full charge.


13 posted on 04/28/2017 5:01:50 PM PDT by caww
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To: nomorelurker

Molly the mustang is a real people friendly horse.She’s crazy fast and agile but never tries to unload me.She’s a horse that will work with you,not try to test you all the time.


14 posted on 04/28/2017 5:02:54 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (Every time a toilet flushes,another liberal gets his brains.)
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To: SteveH

But... They’ve never been anything other than horses. Evolution my ass.


15 posted on 04/28/2017 5:03:55 PM PDT by Mafe
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To: ml/nj

The Jockey Club may issue a ‘racing permit’ for non-thoroughbreds that is accepted by state racing commissions.

I am sure they are very selective in granting this but I don’t know the details.


16 posted on 04/28/2017 5:08:15 PM PDT by TexasGator
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To: iowamark
Artificial insemination is widely used in horse and other animal breeding.

From Wikipedia:

Unlike a significant number of registered breeds today, a horse cannot be registered as a Thoroughbred (with The Jockey Club registry) unless conceived by live cover, the witnessed natural mating of a mare and a stallion.
So if we're talking about the fastest horses, the WaPo reporter is FOS. (No surprise.)

ML/NJ

17 posted on 04/28/2017 5:09:36 PM PDT by ml/nj
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To: RegulatorCountry

“suggesting that only a relatively few males were the ancestors of today’s horses.”

did the Great Flood have anything to do with it? When was that?


18 posted on 04/28/2017 5:14:28 PM PDT by huldah1776 ( Vote Pro-life! Allow God to bless America before He avenges the death of the innocent.)
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To: TexasGator
for non-thoroughbreds

This is the key phrase in what you posted. Some jurisdictions run Arabians, and maybe other breeds, I don't know, in separate races for that/those breed(s). But thoroughbreds only race with other thoroughbreds at any racetrack that ever runs a race in front of more than 200 people.

ML/NJ

19 posted on 04/28/2017 5:15:16 PM PDT by ml/nj
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To: huldah1776

“suggesting that only a relatively few males were the ancestors of today’s horses.”
did the Great Flood have anything to do with it? When was that?


Or there is the possibility that the so called “junk DNA” contains all the information to revert back to the original. Wouldn’t a Creator build a backup system?
domestic hogs also revert in just a few generations.

https://www.quora.com/How-many-generations-would-it-take-for-dogs-to-revert-to-wolves-if-a-wide-cross-section-of-modern-breeds-were-left-to-breed-freely


20 posted on 04/28/2017 5:19:34 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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