Age estimation using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) in both healthy felines and those with chronic kidney disease.

ABSTRACT: Age is an important ecological tool in wildlife conservation. However, it is difficult to estimate in most animals, including felines-most of whom are endangered. Here, we developed the first DNA methylation-based age-estimation technique-as an alternative to current age-estimation methods-for two feline species that share a relatively long genetic distance with each other: domestic cat (Felis catus; 79 blood samples) and an endangered Panthera, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia; 11 blood samples). We measured the methylation rates of two gene regions using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM). Domestic cat age was estimated with a mean absolute deviation (MAD) of 3.83 years. Health conditions influenced accuracy of the model. Specifically, the models built on cats with ch

SUBMITTER: Qi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8497492 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature