ARS | Publication request: RECENT ADVANCES IN THE GENETICS OF MEAT TENDERNESS

Submitted to: Feedinfo.com
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: September 8, 2003
Publication Date: September 9, 2003
Citation: CASAS, E., SMITH, T.P. RECENT ADVANCES IN THE GENETICS OF MEAT TENDERNESS. FEEDINFO.COM. 2003. Online available: http://www.feedinfo.com. Accessed Sept. 9, 2003.

Interpretive Summary: The objective of this paper was to review the facts leading to the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms at the CAPN1 gene as a marker system used to identify animals with potentially tender meat. By using two bovine families and a population of cattle, it was established that two mutations (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the CAPN1 gene can predict a portion of the differences in beef tenderness. This information is a step towards identifying gene differences in meat tenderness.

Technical Abstract: Meat tenderness is one of the most important traits in the beef industry and for the consumer. This trait is inherited, thus, it has been possible to identify regions in the chromosomes where genes affecting meat tenderness reside. CAPN1 is a gene that resides in one of those regions on bovine chromosome 29. Two mutations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), within the gene have been associated with tenderness of the meat. It was determined that these mutations are not the cause of the differences, but they can be used to assess the effect of chromosome 29 on tenderness. Both SNP are a marker system that partially identifies differences in tenderness of the meat.