Establishing a Pan-Epigenome for Cattle and Sheep is a newly funded $1.3 million dollar USDA NIFA grant that is being led by Animal & Veterinary Sciences Associate Professor Stephanie McKay, in collaboration with Darren Hagen, PhD, at Oklahoma State University, and Brenda Murdoch, PhD, at the University of Idaho.
This project encompasses comprehensive characterization of conservation and diversity of both cattle and sheep epigenomes. So, what is the epigenome? The epigenome includes chemical modifications, like adding methyl groups also known as methylation, to histones, DNA and RNA bases through the genomes of each animal, and influences gene function and subsequently affects economically important traits in livestock species. These chemical modifications to the genetic codes of individuals can be influenced by the environment and can be passed on from one generation to the next.
In this project, the amount and location of methylation on DNA and RNA, and histones as well as other chemical modifications, of three primary tissues for multiple breeds of cattle and sheep will be characterized. Cataloging epigenetic diversity across cattle and sheep will increase our understanding of how different genomes, epigenomes, and gene products from diverse breeds of cattle and sheep will affect a variety of important biological traits, and support more accurate prediction of these traits for improved breeding strategies.