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Breeds: All
Description
Leopard complex spotting (LP) is caused by an incompletely dominant mutation in the TRPM1 gene. LP makes spotting possible, but it does not decide how much white a horse shows. That depends on other genes, and the most important of these is Pattern-1 (PATN1).
PATN1 is a variant in the RFWD3 gene that greatly increases the amount of white in horses that carry LP. It acts in a dominant fashion, so a single copy is enough. Without PATN1, an LP horse typically shows a smaller blanket or minimal white. With PATN1, the white extends over most of the body:
- One copy of LP with PATN1 typically produces a leopard or near-leopard pattern: a mostly white horse with dark spots throughout.
- Two copies of LP with PATN1 typically produce a few-spot pattern: a mostly white horse with very few spots.
PATN1 without LP
PATN1 has no visible effect on a horse that does not carry LP. A solid horse can carry PATN1 without showing it and still pass it to its foals. This is how a solid parent bred to a spotted LP parent can produce a leopard foal. PATN1 has been confirmed in the Appaloosa, American Miniature Horse, British Spotted Pony and Knabstrupper, among others, and Animal Genetics has also found it in breeds that do not carry LP.
Why test for PATN1?
Breeders aiming for leopard or few-spot foals can use PATN1 results to choose pairings, including identifying solid horses that carry PATN1 and could contribute it. PATN1 is most useful when tested together with Leopard Complex (LP), since the two results together predict the pattern.
Possible results
| Genotype | Description |
|---|---|
| PATN1/PATN1 | Homozygous: Horse has two copies of PATN1 and will pass one copy to every offspring. If the horse also carries LP, it will show extensive white. |
| n/PATN1 | Heterozygous: Horse has one copy of PATN1. Each foal has a 50% chance of inheriting it. If the horse also carries LP, it will show extensive white. |
| n/n | Negative: Horse does not carry PATN1. |
Breeds Affected
Appaloosa, Knabstrupper, American Miniature Horse, British Spotted Pony, Pony of the Americas, Noriker, Tiger Horse, Walkaloosa
Reference
Variant in the RFWD3 gene associated with PATN1, a modifier of leopard complex spotting.
Anim Genet. 2016 Feb;47(1):91-101. doi: 10.1111/age.12375. Epub 2015 Nov 16.
PMID: 26568529
Related Tests
Breeding for pattern? The Appaloosa Pattern Panel covers LP and PATN1 together for $40.