Horse: The mutation that changed everything

A study by CNRS, in collaboration with Swiss and Chinese teams, published in Science, reveals that a mutation in the Gasdermin C (GSDMC) gene played a key role in horse domestication by altering its anatomy and mobility, facilitating riding and equestrian movement as early as the 3rd millennium BCE. Thirteen other mutations affecting docility, size, or behavior were also identified, shedding light on the genetic changes that shaped the human-horse relationship.