Illinois Helps Unlock Cow Genome

It was announced on Thursday, that a team of researchers has unlocked the DNA sequence of the cow. This is a phenomenal discovery that will help scientists in the future engineer cows to be stronger and healthier.

Having the genome sequence is now the window to understanding how these changes occurred, how ruminants ended up with four stomachs instead of one, how the cow’s immune system operates and how it is able to secrete large amounts of protein in its milk, said Harris Lewin, the director of the Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

This resulted in breeds differing in milk yield, meat quality and a resistance to disease and pests, said Jerry Taylor, a University of Missouri professor who helped develop the map and write the paper.

Now that scientists have a better insight into the genetic makeup of cows, they can improve breeding, which will lead to better feed efficiency and meat production, he said.

It’s having an amazing impact on the animal industry, Taylor said

Thanks again, Illinois!

Team completes DNA sequence on cows – St. Louis Post-Dispatch