Dairy cattle breeding for improved milk production traits in cattle

Abstract

Nucleic acid molecules comprising a SNP site at position 1296 of bovine uterine milk protein (UTMP) coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1), which SNP indicates a desirable productive life in a dairy cattle. Also disclosed are an array or a kit comprising the same, a method for detecting the SNPs, a method for progeny testing of cattle, and a method for selectively breeding of cattle.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polymorphic site at position 1296 of bovine uterine milk protein (UTMP) coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein position 1296 is guanine, and at least 9 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 adjacent to the polymorphic site. 
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides adjacent to the polymorphic site. 
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 2 , which comprises at least 20 contiguous nucleotides adjacent to the polymorphic site. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 150 nucleotides. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 100 nucleotides. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 50 nucleotides. 
     
     
         7 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymorphic site is within 4 nucleotides of the center of the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         8 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 7 , wherein the polymorphic site is at the center of the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         9 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymorphic site is at the 3′-end of the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         10 . An array of nucleic acid molecules comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  supported on a substrate. 
     
     
         11 . A kit comprising a nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , and a suitable container. 
     
     
         12 . A method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in uterine milk protein (UTMP) coding sequence of a bovine cell, the method comprising determining the identity of a nucleotide at position 1296 of the UTMP coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and comparing the identity to the nucleotide identity at a corresponding position of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the bovine cell is an adult cell, an embryo cell, a sperm, an egg, a fertilized egg, or a zygote. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing nucleic acid molecule, or a relevant fragment thereof, isolated from the cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is isolated from the cell via amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of genomic DNA of the cell, or by RT-PCR of the mRNA of the cell. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by hybridizing a suitable probe to a nucleic acid preparation from the cell. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the probe is labeled with a detectable label. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the sequence of both copies of genetic locus in the cell are determined. 
     
     
         19 . A method for progeny testing of cattle, the method comprising collecting a nucleic acid sample from said progeny, and determining the SNP according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled)