Holstein Friesian dairy cattle edited for diluted coat color as a potential adaptation to climate change.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High-producing Holstein Friesian dairy cattle have a characteristic black and white coat, often with large proportions of black. Compared to a light coat color, black absorbs more solar radiation which is a contributing factor to heat stress in cattle. To better adapt dairy cattle to rapidly warming climates, we aimed to lighten their coat color by genome editing.

Results

Using gRNA/Cas9-mediated editing, we introduced a three bp deletion in the pre-melanosomal protein 17 gene (PMEL) proposed as causative variant for the semi-dominant color dilution phenotype observed in Galloway and Highland cattle. Calves generated from cells with homozygous edits revealed a strong color dilution effect. Instead of the characteristic black and white markings of control calves ge

SUBMITTER: Laible G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8626976 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature