Methods and compositions for improved cattle longevity and milk production

Abstract

A single nucleotide polymorphic site at position 10793 of the bovine POU1F1 gene is associated with improved longevity and milk product traits. Disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polymorphic site at position 10793 and at least 15 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO: 1 adjacent to the polymorphic site, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises an adenine base at position 10793, or a nucleic acid molecule that is fully complementary to the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         2 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least 17 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO: 1 adjacent to the polymorphic site. 
     
     
         3 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least 20 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO: 1 adjacent to the polymorphic site. 
     
     
         4 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 150 nt. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 100 nt. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , which comprises not more than 50 nt. 
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymorphic site is within 4 nucleotides of the center of the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 7 , wherein the polymorphic site is at the center of the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         9 . A 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 at least two nucleic acid molecules according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         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 bovine POU1F1 gene, wherein the PI gene have a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, the method comprising determining the identity of a nucleotide at position 10793, and comparing the identity to the nucleotide identity at a corresponding position of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         13 . A method for genotyping a bovine cell, comprising obtaining a nucleic acid sample from said cell and determining the identity of the nucleotide of a position of 10793 of the bovine POU1F1 gene according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the bovine cell is an adult cell, an embryo cell, a sperm, an egg, a fertilized egg, or a zygote. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing the PI gene, or a relevant fragment thereof, isolated from the cell. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the gene or a relevant fragment thereof 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. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein both copies of the gene in the cell are genotyped. 
     
     
         18 . A method for progeny testing of cattle, the method comprising collecting a nucleic acid sample from said progeny, and genotyping said nucleic sample according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         19 - 25 . (canceled)