Agricultural and Life Sciences (IFAS)
Brooks Equine Genetics Lab
Led by Samantha Brooks · Animal Sciences
What we study
The Brooks Equine Genetics Lab studies genetic causes of diseases, disorders, and traits in horses to improve health and breeding. They use methods like genome-wide association, re-sequencing, and transcriptomics.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Fieldwork
- Farm animals (cattle, horses, poultry)
- Coding required
- Projects
- 6
- Papers
- 6
Current projects
Get a Leg-up
Pinpoints genes that influence a horse's size, growth and conformation, using a 3-D body measuring method and DNA from horses of many breeds.
Gait Study
Looks for the genes that let horses gait, such as the running walk or pace, using video, measurements, pedigrees and DNA from gaited breeds.
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Size Study
Maps skeletal variation and body size in horses to find the genes behind it, using measurements and DNA, in collaboration with Dr. Nathan Sutter. Called the Size Study.
Metabolic Study
Looks for the genes behind equine metabolic syndrome and Equine Cushing's disease, two hormone disorders of horses, studying Arabians and Morgans.
Coat Color Genetics
Studies the genetics of horse coat colors, especially new white patterns, and how color genes can also affect a horse's health.
Examining the relationship between dressage performance and gait biomechanics in sport horses using machine learning
The lab used a machine‑learning model to track horse body points in 194 videos from 5 venues. Eight gait parameters were calculated and compared to dressage scores out of 100 to see how competition affects gait quality and scoring.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 182
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Horse species symposium: Current and future outlook on equine industry, research trends, and opportunities: How to promote a sustainable field into the future
2026 · Journal of Animal Science
Summarizes perspectives from the 2025 Horse Species Symposium on challenges and future directions for equine research.
- Genome-wide study identifies a locus associated with atopic dermatitis severity in a canine model
2026 · Journal of Investigative Dermatology
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- Development of a robust, versatile SNP array for genomic research and breeding applications in the dromedary camel
2026 · Livestock Science
Develops a SNP array for dromedary camel genomic research using 201 whole-genomes from 18 countries.
- A Subclinical Biomechanical Phenotype Detected By AI-Assisted Video Gait Analysis in Horses Heterozygous for the Fragile Foal Syndrome Allele in PLOD1
2026 · Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
- United States stakeholder insights on genetic testing for equine health and breeding
2026 · Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Surveys U.S. horse owners and enthusiasts on their views and priorities for genetic testing.
- Keeping Horses Healthy on the Road
2026 · EDIS
Reviews biosecurity and best practices for keeping horses healthy during travel.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Samantha Brooks hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.