Bovine Genome Project Complete

A group of 300 scientists from 25 different countries has successfully decoded the bovine genome, according to an article published in Science Magazine.

During the six-year-long sequencing project, researchers discovered the bovine genome consists of about 22,000 distinct genes, 80 percent of which are identical to human genes. They also found the bovine chromosomal arrangement to be more similar to humans than that of both mice and rats, the animals most often studied to research human illnesses and treatments.

What does this mean for animal agriculture? It means researchers may be able to better prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses in cattle. The result: healthier production of meat and milk and the possibility of less dependence on antibiotics.

To top it all off, since the bovine and human genomes are so similar, the study's findings may even help scientists better understand how the human genome operates in terms of health and disease.

To read more about the genome sequencing project, click here.