The first affected individual having the single gene trait or Homozygous mutation in his or her DNA and is capable of passing the trait to all his or her offspring is
called a Proband. If the Proband remains asymptomatic of the trait (showings no signs of the disorder) because the disorder is not apparent, the proband, if bred to his or her own breed or other breeds will continue affecting all his or her offspring and may not be detected by the owner or their Vet. till they or their offspring become symptomatic of the trait or showing signs of the disorder.Mendelian Inheritance is agentic trait (mutation) that is determined by only one single allele (gene) not a pair and is specific as a gene on one or both members of the 1-22 chromosome pairs. They are characterized by the pattern of DNA transmission in Equine family lines also called pedigree or breed. The term breed or kindred also includes relatives outside the breed who have the same immediate nucleus (part of the whole or core ) family ties.

This information was complied by our Research Team and is only intended to open your eyes to facts that are already out there but carefully and cleverly hidden under Genetic Covers that are never brought to light in redundant Colic articles. Autosomal Recessive is a gene or allele that is a mode of inheritance of genetic traits located on the autosomes or the 1-22 non-sexual determining chromosomes. The recessive trait becomes phenotypically (an obvious expression of a trait ) apparent when two copies of a gene are present.
In other words the subject possessing such a genetic pair would be suspect homozygous for the trait an example of a homozygous trait is a male or female that can produce offspring of only one color. Recessive genes will also show a horizontal inheritance (straight down the line) on a pedegree or breed of Equine whose DNA is passed on to offspring by him or her mating.
SCIDS in Arabian foals is a known and highly publicized example of this type of trait. However ; there are over 22 other known disorders, also attributed to this type of trait that are not well publicized, including one that the British Ministry of Agriculture brought to light from a study on 3,500 Equine Subjects in 1992.
It was a lengthy study on various groups of equines with Congential traits and this was found under the heading Congential Defects Of The Gastrointestinal System and we quote :
" All 500 of the affected Individuals suspected to present with Autosomal Recessive Inheritance trait resulting in Congenital Defects of the Gastreintestinal System, were chronically forming impactions in various areas along the intestinal tract with segments most involved being the Right Dorsal and or the Right and or Left Ventral Coli (Colon)and the Jejunum and or Ilem (Small Intestines). It was ascertained that they had within hours of birth and at various ages of their lives, had muliple
Episodes of Impaction Colic based on such impactions forming.
The findings did indeed show a strong leaning to the trait of a Autosomal Recessive Mendelian Inheritance Disorder in some subjects, since their siblings and or Dam and or Sire of these individuals had appeared symptomatic with the trait, as well.
All 500 subjects which appeared to be affected with the trait were from various breeds and were symptomatic, diagnosed and treated with one or multiple bouts of Impaction Colic during the 6 year study, with 322 dying during a bout or later being humanly etuhanized when conventional treatment and or surgical intervention failed to restore them to sufficent or normal health. The remaining 178 symptomatic individuals that survived were also from various breeds but all 500 subjects had familial lines containing various amounts of certain ancestorial or direct DNA connections. This was not conclusive evidence that any or some of the suspect affected Homozygous Probands were from a certain pedigree or kindred to any particular breed but this post suspiciously warranted further DNA studies later conducted along this line reguarding this disorder, to include siblings and offspring of future subjects"

Mitochrondrial DNA Linked To Equine Gastrointestinal Disorders by Oxford Univiversity of Genetic Animal Sciences( 1987)

Mitochrondrion {plural Mitochrondria} are a small organella or a specialized part of a cell that resembles an functions as an organ. These are only present in the egg of the mare and are in most of the cells in the Equine body. They convert certain chemicals in food, in the presence of oxygen, to the common currency of energy inside their cells or (ATP). Mitochrondria contains it's own private DNA and in recent years has been tied to over 27 hereditary Equine disorders as a result of mutations in the Mitochrondrial DNA. Since only the female egg is involved the inherited disorder is passed only through a Dam's DNA to all her offspring. All male and female offspring from an affected mare will be affected and exibit as either asymptomatic or symptomatic of the trait but only the female offspring can pass it to her offspring.
A Gastrointestinal Disorder within the Longitudinal Muscle layer of The Large Intestinal Wall is one of the 27 disorders of Mitochrondrial DNA. This disorder found in both affected male or female equines, can periodically destabilize conductive energry within the muscle which can interupt or cease motility within the Large Intestine which forms the catalysis for a fecal matter impaction, which is the suspect contributing factor in a bout of Impaction Colic.

The University of Minnesota
Equine Center

It is very likely that other major genetic disorders of the horse can be better understood with gene mapping approaches. Identification of specific genes causing these disorders could also lead to development and selection of specific medications to treat the conditions.

Noteable Embryo Genetist Dr. Ray Ford while heading a team for the Goverment addressed on April 13th,1989 a prestigious body of the finest scientific minds and began his speach with the following statement."To limit the use of genetics in harnessing the power over life and death and not use them as a deciding factor as to who,what and how all creatures on this earth become endowed, would mean the microscopic universe that genes exist in is beyond our science to taper with. If we as scientists let something as minute as a gene, determine our very existance, without using our science to turn the tide to overcome disease, growth potentials, metabolism, intellegence and any other factors that decide the fate of our existence, God has wasted his time giving us the knowledge to do so ! "
Yale University Gazette

Animal Science Journal
Article date 2005 study conducted by Dr. Kumagai, Suzuki, Shinohara, Ohitomo and Nishida at the School of Agriculutre Sciences Equine Science Tohoku University Japan.
Heritabilities in heavy racehorses was estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, with a full data set of accumulated frequency of medical treatment against digestive disorders of 3 classes of colic. Herreditabilty estimates for the same traits were also obtained using one data set from several affected animals only. In addition a 2 class, one threshold model with a defined record of colic was applied to the full set and heritability estimation of such likely disorders showed up in all three digestive disorders / colic resulting from flatulence, constipation and overfeeding. These results suggest that future studies using a the threshold model horse in reguards to sibs and 1/2 sibs should be conducted
in order to establish a link genetically to these disorders.

World renoun New York Gastoenterologist & surgeon Dr.Brandon Dittmer stated in his speach on June 28th at the auspicious Gastroenterology Convention held in Copenhagen Denmark, that research shows genetics play a huge part as to cause and effect of imperfections within the bowels of individuals and animal test subjects that present with chronic Gastrointestinal blockages and conditions.
The New York Times June 30th,1980

Dr. Starmonth BVM ,EP who was assigned to perform a necropsy and pathology report on Grand National CH. Tallstory, declared before Lloyds of London Insurance Board of Inquiry in Donnington, Sussex England on Saturday October the 5th,1977 that he determined the $2,000,000 pound insured Champion's cause of death to be Impaction Colic. In his statement to the board he noted that the bowels of the equine because of genetic imperfections in the lining created disfunction and stalled motility, which caused the impaction to occur and in his opinion, the impaction was not related to improper care
or feeding of the equine.
Horse and Hound Magazine