Development of Bos indicus Specific DNA markers for paternity tests, genetic origin certification and genealogic register use in bovine cattle

• Grant number: 09/15283-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2009
• End date: November 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: José Fernando Garcia
• Grantee: Yuri Tani Utsunomiya
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian bovine cattle is the largest in commercial terms, constituted meanly by indicine breeds, being the biggest meat exporter in the world in volume. Thus, efforts to promote the genetic improvement and development of biotechnologies that facilitate this activity are justified. Populacional genetic parameters and genetic merit estimation through animal model depends of the correct genealogic information. In this context, nucleic acids molecular markers utilization facilitated the genetic variability quantification and the execution of paternity tests in animals, mostly by the microsatellite or Short Tadem Reapeats technology (STR), whose application is regulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supplies (MAPA). However, despite of the consecration by usage, STRs present technical problems due to its biochemical constitution (subjectivity in analysis, taurine specificity, automation difficulties), which has motivated new alternatives development. Hence, Single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) makes it’s gaining popularity of international scientific community, especially after the Bovine Genome Project conclusion. However, SNP initiatives have being leaded with taurine cattle. Hence, generation of new SNP markers for the usage in indicine bovine with purposes of paternity tests, genetic origin certification and genealogic register, is necessary to complement the STR markers analysis, being in line with MAPA actions in Brazilian animal genetic improvement fiscalization. Thereby, this project aims the identification and caracterization of new SNP markes from genomes of individuals representing the major indicine breeds of Brazil, in addition to the standarization of new analytical tests. (AU)