Phenotypic population screen identifies a new mutation in bovine DGAT1 responsible for unsaturated milk fat.

ABSTRACT: Selective breeding has strongly reduced the genetic diversity in livestock species, and contemporary breeding practices exclude potentially beneficial rare genetic variation from the future gene pool. Here we test whether important traits arising by new mutations can be identified and rescued in highly selected populations. We screened milks from 2.5 million cows to identify an exceptional individual which produced milk with reduced saturated fat content, and improved unsaturated and omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. The milk traits were transmitted dominantly to her offspring, and genetic mapping and genome sequencing revealed a new mutation in a previously unknown splice enhancer of the DGAT1 gene. Homozygous carriers show features of human diarrheal disorders, and may be useful for the

SUBMITTER: Lehnert K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4341421 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature