BOVINE ALLELES AND GENETIC MARKERS AND METHODS OF TESTING OF AND USING SAME

摘要

One major aspect of this invention involves a method and means for elucidating the number and nature of the alleles of the bovine lymphocyte antigen system-DRB3 locus of cattle. A polymerase chain reaction-based method and means is described for typing of alleles of the bovine lymphocyte antigen DRB3 gene ("BoLA-DRB3"). Another major aspect of this invention involves linkage between the major histocompatibility complex ("MHC") and the prolactin loci ("PRL"). The MHC and PRL genes are syntenic in man and cattle but heretofore the genetic distance between these loci has not been determined for either species. Such information should be useful in the evaluation of potential for milk production. Another major aspect involves PCR-RFLP data to develop a new diagnostic assay based on amino acid motifs. This assay, termed motif discrimination by product length, can determine resistance or susceptibility to the bovine leukemia virus in cattle.