Polymorphism in the A2M Gene Associated with High-Quality Milk in Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis)
January 2016
in “
Genetics and molecular research
”
TLDR Certain genetic variations in the A2M gene are linked to better milk quality in Murrah buffaloes.
In a study conducted in 2016, researchers investigated the association between polymorphisms in the A2M gene and milk production traits in 136 Murrah buffaloes. They extracted DNA from hair follicle samples and identified polymorphisms using polymerase chain reactions and sequencing. The study found seven nucleotide substitutions when comparing buffalo and bovine sequences and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among the buffalo sequences. One significant SNP in exon 29, g.241A>G, was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and showed a significant association (P < 0.05) with increased fat production and higher fat and protein percentages in milk. This SNP was suggested as a potential molecular marker for selecting buffaloes with superior milk quality traits.