CCMB Scientists To Map Buffalo Genome

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Hyderabad: : It is perhaps for the first time in the world that scientists are working on mapping the ’complete buffalo genome sequence’. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad has taken up the prestigious project for decoding the genes of the Indian buffalo. This landmark project is being assisted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) which has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CCMB. The collaborative project called ‘Buffalo genomics’ involves a total cost of Rs 2.3 crore, to be funded by NDDB and developed over a three-year period in a phased manner.

“Development of a large number of DNA markers for creation of the genome map of the domestic buffalo is one of the areas of research at CCMB,” according to Dr Satish Kumar, a senior scientist who is leading a group in buffalo germplasm studies at CCMB.

“This is for the first time that such a project for creating genome-wide linkage map of any animal or plant species is being undertaken in India,” Dr Kumar said. It is a logical extension work for development of large number of DNA markers covering the entire buffalo genome using comparative genomics approach.

The project will be developing new tools to achieve faster genetic improvement in buffaloes, he said. The first phase is expected to start in April, 2003.

It will focus on identifying 500 DNA markers that are polymorphic in buffaloes and during the second phase, CCMB scientists will prepare a linkage map of the genome. In the final phase, the scientists would establish the relationship between markers and economically important traits.

“Though there is some information in the public domain on cattle, no specific information on buffaloes is available,” Dr Kumar said. The decoding, with the aid of bioinformatic tools, involves a selection procedure for better milk production, disease resistance, adaptability, etc of an animal. Apart from genetic improvement, the other area is biodiversity in terms of conservation and utilisation of the germplasm in the country.