The list of winning projects for funding on the “Science-Education-Industry” grant competition (EIF / MGM / ETS-1-2020-1 (35)) declared by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been announced.

The project entitled "Study of the genome profile of “Karabakh” and “Dilbaz” horse breeds: detection and use of genetic markers, allele variations in selection" is among the winning projects which was presented by Khazar University in cooperation with the Veterinary Research Institute.

Objectives of the project: Karabakh Equestrian Complex and Dilbaz Equestrian Farm.

Specialists to be involved: Khazar University, the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, the Veterinary Research Institute, and the German Eurofins Genomics Laboratory.

The main scientific idea of the project: Determining the genes and allele variations that characterize Karabakh and Dilbaz horses through a comprehensive phenotypic and genetic study and to ensure the protection of the genes by identifying associations between important phenotypic traits and genes, as well as improving the effectiveness of selection and development based on the genome data.

For the first time in the world, the genomes of Karabakh and Dilbaz horses will be sequenced. Sex-specific genes or alleles that control valuable traits will be identified, and single nucleotide polymorphisms catalog will be created. Scientific achievements will be applied at the Karabakh Equestrian Complex and Dilbaz Equestrian Farm. The Electronic Database, which contains molecular biological information, will serve these farms for the implementation of a breeding selection plan for next decades.

This electronic database will work on ordinary smartphones. For the first time in these farms, the identification of animals will be carried out using electronic chips. This will allow for more accurate and correct registration. In general, these systems will be the starting point for the creation of a "smart barn" model for the first time in Azerbaijan.

The period of implementation on this project is 24 months.