DNA-based chip to identify good germplasm of ‘desi’ cattle

Haryana Science & Technology

01-Apr-21

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Scientists of the Karnal-based National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) have succeeded in developing a high-density DNA-based chip of molecular markers to identify the elite germplasm of indigenous cattle. They had earlier tasted success in genome sequencing of all 50 registered breeds of the indigenous cattle of the country.
As per the scientists, after analysing the sequencing data using various bio-informatic tools, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip was created. “Recently, we completed the decoding of DNA (genome) sequence of all 50 registered breeds of the indigenous cattle of the country after a struggle of two years by using bio-informatics tools. Based on the study’s outcome, we have designed and developed a high-density chip of molecular markers,” said Dr RK Vijh, Director, NBAGR.
These scientists claim that with the help of this chip, elite germplasm can be identified at very early age even at the time of birth when the DNA or blood can be calculated, while in the existing technique, the progeny testing programme takes around eight-and-a-half to nine-years for selection of elite sires or bulls.
“In the existing technique, the prediction was done when the daughters of those sires completed the first lactation, but now, the quality of elite germplasm can be determined at birth,” the director said, adding that apart from being a time-consuming technology, the existing one is also cost-intensive.
The DNA-based chip methodology will reduce the generation interval by five or six years. Besides, it will lead to increase in genetic worth by two-and-a-half times.
The new method will allow the scientists to select elite bulls from a large number of animals.
The purpose of this chip is identification of elite germplasm, especially in bulls, because most of the economic traits, including milk yield, reproduction, milk composition, are sex limited.