Genetic testing for improved cattle fertility

Abstract

Arrays of nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods based on novel SNPs on genes of the bovine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway for improved bovine fertilization rate. The methods and compositions of the present invention are related to SNPs in the DNA-binding protein inhibitor 3 (ID3) gene, and in the bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) gene corresponding to position 2702 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Also disclosed are methods for determining viability of developing bovine embryos by measuring the expression level of one or more target genes in the TGF-signaling pathway, and selecting for implantation only embryos whose target gene expression level is not up-regulated.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 798,176 filed on Mar. 13, 2013 claiming priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 621,571 filed on Apr. 8, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST[0002]This invention was made with government support under 12-CRHF-0-6055 awarded by the USDA / NIFA. The government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to methods for genetically testing cattle using molecular genetic methods by assaying for the presence of at least one genetic marker which is indicative of fertility. The present invention further relates to a method for assaying cattle embryo viability by assaying gene expression pattern in the embryo. Specifically, genetic variations in, and expression level of genes, of the transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway are tested for improved pre-impla...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for screening cattle embryos for implanting by measuring the expression levels of genes in the TGF-β pathway. The genes include DNA-binding protein inhibitor 3 (ID3), thrombospondin-2 (THBS2), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), BMP binding endothelial regulator (BMPER), decorin (DCN), SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2), thrombospondin-4 (THBS4), protein phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit A (PPP2R1A), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70 kDa, polynucleotide (RPS6KB2). The expression levels of these genes are measured relative to housekeeping genes and used to determine the quality of the embryo for implanting. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid molecules and arrays of nucleic acid molecules for use in genotyping purposes. The invention provides a valuable tool for identifying and selecting desirable embryos for implanting and improving pre-implantation embryo development in cattle.

Problems solved by technology

Reproductive deterioration in high-producing dairy cows has caused substantial economic loss in the dairy cattle industry (Lucy, 2007).

Although genetic factors are known to affect reproductive performance (Shook, 2006), the identification of specific genes has been a challenge, probably due to the low accuracy of fertility data collected in the field, and the low heritability of these traits (VanRaden et al., 2004).

Nevertheless, even though the TGF-β signaling pathway was known to play a crucial role in ovarian and embryonic development, it had not been established whether the balance of expression level of various genes from this pathway is needed for proper preimplantation development of IVF embryos.

Furthermore, there was limited information on the extent of contributions of maternal and embryonic genomes to the survival of the developing embryo.

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