News & Views
Mutant gene causing Demetz Syndrome is identified
May 19 2011
Only 5,000 cows are registered as Tyrolean Grey cattle and, as with any animal, races or species with small populations tend to be more susceptible to genetic problems, with Demetz Syndrome highlighted as a particular issue for this breed.
A consortium of scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland and the Universities of Veterinary Medicine and of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna set about investigating the possible genetic causes of the disease, symptoms of which include lameness and lack of muscle coordination.
In a study published by the esteemed online journal PLoSone, the team revealed that a mutated Mitofusin 2 Gene (MFN2), which through genetic sequencing appeared to have no effect, actually led to a production of a shortened and non-functional protein.
"Scientists often rely on sequence information to identify mutations. But it is easy to miss things if you don't also perform traditional expression studies and look at the RNA and proteins that are produced," explained Uschi Reichart, a post-doc in the group of Mathias Muller at the University of Veterinary Medicine of the so-called 'silent mutations'.
Digital Edition
LMUK 49.7 Nov 2024
November 2024
News - Research & Events News - News & Views Articles - They’re burning the labs... Spotlight Features - Incubators, Freezers & Cooling Equipment - Pumps, Valves & Liquid Hand...
View all digital editions
Events
Nov 11 2024 Dusseldorf, Germany
Nov 12 2024 Cologne, Germany
Nov 12 2024 Tel Aviv, Israel
Nov 18 2024 Shanghai, China
Nov 20 2024 Karachi, Pakistan