Polymorphism on the Meat Quality in Chinese Bos Taurus

In the present study, we evaluated polymorphism of myogenic factor 5, involved in growth and meat quality traits. Based on PCR-SSCP technology, a novel missense substitution SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) g.1142 A > G was identifi ed in the intron1 region of the MyF-5 gene, it causes an amino acid substitution (1142Glutamine/ Glycine1142). Allele frequencies, gene heterozygosity, eff ective allele number and polymorphism information content of the bovine MyF-5 SNP in three population breeds were determined and evaluated by the χ2 test. Results showed that the polymorphism distribution was not similar in all of the three Bos taurus breeds, the genotype distributions of two cattle breeds Jia xian red and Nanyang did not agree with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.01); one breed Qinchuan did not deviate signifi cantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). Th e A/G allelic frequencies in these breeds were 0.797/0.202, 0.770/0.229, 0.863/0.136 respectively. Th e genotype frequencies in Jia xian red and Nanyang cattle breeds showed moderate diversity (0.25< polymorphism information content <0.5). Furthermore, least squares analysis revealed signifi cant eff ects of genotype on intramuscular fat, rib area and water holding capacity in 510 individuals (P < 0.05). Our result suggests that A1142G SNP can be used as an effi cacious genetic marker for meat quality traits in native Chinese cattle breeds (Bos taurus) but a much large number of animals are required for Marker assisted selection.