ARS | Publication request: analysis of Cattle Copy Number Variation Reveals Insights into the Evolution of Ruminants

Submitted to: CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF GENOMES
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: March 29, 2008
Publication Date: May 10, 2008
Citation: Liu, G., Keele, J.W., Van Tassell, C.P., Sonstegard, T.S., Li, R.W., Alexander, L.J., Matukumalli, L.K., Smith, T.P., Gasbarre, L.C. 2008. analysis of cattle copy number variation reveals insights into the evolution of ruminants. 2008 meeting on the Biology of Genomes, May 6-10, 2007, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. p197.

Technical Abstract: We conducted a systematic study of the cattle copy number variation (CNV) using array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH). Multiple bulls from both dairy and beef breeds were selected to represent the cattle population. Up to February 2008, over 80 hybridizations were performed and approximately 100 CNV regions were detected within cattle autosomes using stringent criteria. Selected CNVs were further successfully confirmed by independent methods using Q-PCR. This dataset provided a basis for the first genome-wide analysis of cattle CNV. More than 70% CNV regions overlap with at least one gene and many of these genes are for immunity, defense and metabolism. Several of these genes are particularly interesting because they have gone through ruminant lineage-specific gene amplification. Their copy number polymorphisms reveal that these cattle CNV may contribute to ruminant speciation and adaptation, suggesting selective pressures of ruminant diet and larger exposure to pathogen may drive acquisition or retention of specific gene dosage alterations.