Source: Xinhua
04-24-2009 15:31
Special Report: Tech MaxWASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have finished the genome sequence of cows, which could contribute to better disease resistance and higher quality meat for consumers, according to reports to be published Friday in journal Science.
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| Scientists have finished the genome sequence of cows.(File photo) |
Scientists discovered the cattle genome contains at least 22,000 genes, 80 percent of which are shared with human beings. They also found that cattle have far more in common genetically with humans than mice or rats, and might make better subjects for studying human health.
"The bovine genome is more similar to that of humans than mice or rats at all levels, from genomic DNA rearrangements to shared genes and identity of their protein sequences" said Evgeny Zdobnov, one of the leading analysts from the project and a researcher at the University of Geneva and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
