Polymorphisms in the urocortin 3 gene and their associations with marbling and subcutaneous fat depth in beef cattle
View Patent ↗Aspects of the present invention also provide methods based on novel UCN3 nucleotide polymorphisms selected from the group consisting of AAFC03043460.1:g.8272-8281AATAATAAAT(SEQ ID NO: 9)>GGAGC, g.8208C>T, g.8265C>T, g.8287T>C, g.8412A>G, g.8426T>A, c.8786C>T, g.9074T>C, c.12609C>T, c.12621T>C, c.12667T>G and c.12669C>A , which may provide novel markers for marbling and/or subcutaneous fat. Additional aspects provide for novel methods which may comprise marker-assisted selection or marker-assisted management to improve marbling and/or subcutaneous fat depth in cattle.
1. A method for identifying a bovine animal as having a reduced subcutaneous fat depth (SFD) phenotype as compared to the general population of bovine animals, said method comprising:
(a) obtaining a biological sample from a bovine animal, said sample comprising nucleic acids from said bovine animal;
(b) detecting in said nucleic acids the nucleotide content at the g.8208C>T polymorphic position in the urocortin 3 (UNC3) gene, wherein the g.8208C>T polymorphic position is either a C or a T at position 8208 of SEQ ID NO: 8; and
(c) correlating the nucleotide content at the g.8208C>T polymorphic position in the urocortin 3 (UCN3) gene with the SFD phenotype of the bovine animal, wherein the presence of a C at position 8208 of SEQ ID NO: 8 is indicative of a greater SFD phenotype as compared to the general population of bovine animals.