U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of this Version
2006
Abstract
Researchers at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska are developing a set of 100 DNA markers that will provide essential genetic information for improving food safety and beef quality in North American beef and dairy cattle. This powerful set of markers has been thoroughly screened to accomplish both DNA fingerprinting and parentage testing in essentially all U.S. beef and dairy populations, an ability that only a small fraction of known DNA markers have.
One key to success has been the careful sampling of U.S. beef and dairy populations to create a test panel representing the vast majority of U.S. cattle. A group of 216 diverse sires from 19 beef breeds and 4 dairy breeds was selected for marker testing. Their DNA is being sequenced in selected regions and markers are chosen that work well for the entire group. The rationale is this: if the markers perform well in this diverse group of 216 sires, they will work well in most U.S. cattle herds and beyond.
Other researchers tend to agree and requests for marker information have been received from all over the world including: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.
Comments
Published in USMARC bovine DNA marker update 6-2-06 by Michael P. Heaton