'Human genes are more similar to cow genes than to genes of mice, commonly used in biomedical research, so the cow genome is likely to fill gaps in our understanding of human biology and disease.' Christine Elsik, assistant professor of biology, leader of the protein encoding gene analysts of the ‘Bovine Genome Sequencing Project’.
The genome of bovines has finally been sequenced in an international US$53 million project aimed at discovering possible ways to increase productivity and sustainability of cattle farming.
Over 300 scientists from 25 different countries were involved in the six-year long ‘Bovine Genome Sequencing Project’ that sequenced and analysed the genome of a Hereford cow named L1 Dominette. It was found that there are over 2,870 billion base pairs, encoding at least 22,000 genes in the bovine genome. Of particular interest were the differences in the gene arrangements of the genes used in lactation, reproduction, digestion and metabolism in cows when compared to other mammals (esciencenews.com).
There were several unexpected discoveries made by the teams involved in the project; with CSIRO livestock geneticist Dr. Ross Tellam announcing that “The team found that cows share about 80 percent of the genes with humans, also providing us with a better understanding of the human genome”. Dr. Tellam also stated in his two reports to the journal Science that “cow and human proteins have more in common than mouse and human proteins.”
Cattle immune genes have also been found to rearranged in a way that makes them less susceptible to disease, which could shed light on the reason for their success as a species. Cattle carry large numbers of bacteria and fungi in compartments of their stomachs, creating a large potential for opportunistic infection via the mucus layers in the stomach. When coupled with the fact that cattle live in large, relatively dense herds, it is clear that cattle would have to have a highly effective immune system in order to be successful as a species, possibly explaining this rearrangement of the immune genetics.
With the bovine genome sequenced, rapid selective breeding of cattle will be possible. Many advances in reducing the environmental impact of cattle due to methane emission as well as reducing the input to output ratio of cattle production are to be expected through the coming years.
References:
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/24/dna.blueprint.healthier.and.more.efficient.cows
http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=41667 (Picture and Information )
