Professor Emmeline Hill

Equinome today announced the launch of Checkmate, a new online tool that checks potential matings in real-time for genomic inbreeding risk. Recently published research led by the Royal Veterinary College showed an association between higher genomic inbreeding levels and abortions and stillbirths in Thoroughbreds. High levels of genomic inbreeding have also been shown to significantly impact durability for racing, with published studies, led by University College Dublin and Equinome, showing a clear link between genomic inbreeding and the likelihood of a Thoroughbred horse to ever race. Checkmate is designed to...

Edited Press Release Scientists at University College Dublin and Plusvital Ltd. in Ireland have published a study describing the discovery of genes in racehorses that are associated with stress and coping in the training environment. The research, which is titled "Integrative genomics analysis highlights functionally relevant genes for equine behaviour," appears in the peer-reviewed journal Animal Genetics and is the result of a four-year PhD research project that examined the stress hormone cortisol and the results of a questionnaire in 100 yearlings as they encountered key milestone events during the...

Inbreeding in the Thoroughbred has increased significantly in the last 45 years according to a research paper published in Scientific Reports, the Racing Post reported on Saturday. Professor Emmeline Hill, a co-author on the report, spearheaded the research conducted by University College Dublin and equine science company Plusvital. The DNA of over 10,000 Thoroughbreds was analyzed, with the result a marked increase of inbreeding within the population, as favourable racing traits were selected, as well as more popular sire lines. Ninety-seven percent of the horses in the study traced to...