Deciphering new insights into copy number variations as drivers of genomic diversity and adaptation in farm animal species.

The basis of all improvement in (re)production performance of animals and plants lies in the genetic variation. The underlying genetic variation can be further explored through investigations using molecular markers including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and microsatellite, and more recently structural variants like copy number variations (CNVs). Unlike SNPs, CNVs affect a larger proportion of the genome, making them more impactful vis-à-vis variation at the phenotype level.

Gene expression profiling of indigenous Tharparkar and crossbred Vrindavani cattle affected with lameness using PBMC model.

Lameness is an economically significant, production-limiting syndrome that adversely affects the (re)production performance of animals besides deteriorating the quantity and quality aspects of milk in dairy cattle. The present study aimed to explore the potential biomarkers for painful foot lesions in indigenous Tharparkar and crossbred Vrindavani cattle affected with lameness. The differentially expressed genes in lame versus healthy animals were elucidated using microarray analysis and validated them by qRT-PCR.