SNP FREQUENCY AND HAPLOTYPE DIVERSITY IN BEEF CATTLE CYTOKINE GENES

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, Northern Plains Area, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, U.S. Spur 18D, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933

DNA sequence variation provides the fundamental material for improving livestock through selection. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and small insertion/deletions (collectively referred to here as SNPs) represent a potential resource for analyzing DNA sequence variation in cattle. SNPs have become the markers of choice in human genetic studies because of their high frequency, low mutation rates, and amenability to automated analysis. In cattle we have identified SNPs in genes, scored them in a reference population, and determined their linkage map position. However, for SNP marker strategies to be broadly applied in bovine genetic studies, an estimate of their frequency and information content is required along with automated means of detection. The present study measured bovine DNA sequence variation and haplotype diversity and evaluated automated high-throughput genotyping in cattle by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).