The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Vechur cow’s gene sequenced

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Vechur cow’s gene sequenced

T. Ramavarman

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scientists at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (COVAS), Mannuthy, Thrissur, affiliated to Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), have achieved a remarkable feat by isolating, cloning and sequencing Alpha lactalbumin gene of the Vechur cow.

This was for the first time that the alpha lactalbumin gene of any Indian cattle breed had been isolated and fully sequenced. This prestigious work was undertaken by research student M. Rajeev of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding of COVAS under the guidance of T.V. Aravindakshan.

Sequencing of the gene helps study the functioning of the gene, Prof. Aravindakshan told The Hindu here Sunday. This alpha lactalbumin gene has 1756 base pairs, and has promoter and other regulatory sequences.

Nutritional angle

The gene’s promoter helps expression of the gene, which in this case is the synthesis of the protein. This gene produces alpha lactalbumin in cow’s milk, and, therefore, is an important protein on nutritional angle.

The achievement is expected to make critical contribution in the conservation of this unique indigenous variety of cattle of Kerala which are characterised by relatively small size and reasonably good yield.

On Internet

All the details of this gene are available on the Internet. Accession Number is EU 200932. What kind of a protein is synthesised by the body depends on the sequence of the gene.

How far Vechur cow milk’s alpha lactalbumin is similar to that of other breeds of cows or human is also documented based on the sequences of this specific gene, Prof. Aravindakshan explained.

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