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Expertise 

The BIGE team covers a wide spectrum of skills, from clinical to genomic, including quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, exercise physiology, functional genomics and molecular biology. These include: GWAS analyses of numerous sports performance phenotypes; genomic selection for performance; fine phenotyping techniques (gait, morphology, metabolomics, etc.); microRNA and non-coding RNA analysis; direct sequencing of mitochondrial RNA and DNA; mtDNA variability analysis; mitochondrial functional genomics; gut microbiota analysis; integrative analyses of heterogeneous omics data.

Global theme 

The BIGE team develops new knowledge in equine genetics and genomics to improve equine populations in terms of sporting ability, health and well-being.

Outstanding results

In addition to publications, two genotyping tests were the subject of invention declarations in 2019:

• for the curl gene in the Curly horse ;
• for one of the mutations associated with recurrent exercise myopathy.

Scientific issues

The BIGE team covers a wide spectrum of skills, from clinical to genomic, including quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, exercise physiology, functional genomics and molecular biology. These include: GWAS analysis of a wide range of sports performance phenotypes; genomic selection for performance; fine phenotyping techniques (gait, morphology, metabolomics, etc.); microRNA analysis, etc. 

The team's mission is to provide the equine industry with methods for producing healthy, high-performance sport horses. We therefore develop research projects and applications in genetics and integrative genomics to improve the performance, health and well-being of horse breeds produced in France. Our research projects are grouped into two main areas: i) Genetics of sporting performance and ii) Genomics, health and well-being.

Research facilities

• Partnership with IFCE and breeders' associations
• Attached to the doctoral school: ABIES (Agriculture Biology, Environment, Health)      
• Attached to Université Paris-Saclay