Analyzing The Sheep Genome For Parasite Resistance.

  Science Daily published a recent article about analyzing the sheep genome for parasite resistance. Researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) were looking for genetic resistance for a parasitic nematode that infects numerous herd of Ovine. The nematode is a gastrointestinal parasite that enters the sheep through the mouth while grazing on pasture. The parasites are common in tropical regions and Africa. The ovine will suffer from diarrea, anaemia, weight loss and sometimes even death. These side effects cause great issues for many economies in third world cultures. The USDA and ARS are working with researchers in Kenya in hopes of identifying genes that become tolerant to the parasites. If the genes become parasite resistant then herders can increase production, which in turn makes them more profit. In one study, scientist mapped out regions of the genome that are resistant to the parasite. They bred Red Maasai sheep, which is tolerant to the parasite and bred it with a Dorper, which is more likely to get the parasite. The offspring were then backcross bred with Massai ewes to ensure there tolerance of the parasite. This study showed that 20 percent of the offspring were carrying parasite resistance traits. They offspring were grazed on the same pastures where the nematodes were found and blood was collected from the sheep's gastrointestinal system to detect the amount of parasites. The crossbred offspring were found to have less parasites than their parents. The future studies will use the OvineSNP50 which will be able to examine more than 50,000 locations in the genome.

  I chose this article because my parents are sheep farmers. My family is always consulting with veterinarians to try to vaccinate our heard in order to increase production. Sheep are prone to parasites because they burrow in the ground and sheep graze on the breeding grounds of them.
Overall, I enjoyed this article because it shows relevance to my personal life as well as my academic life, as an agriculture major. It shows relevance to society as a whole because sheep farmers will always have to worry about way to prevent parasites from destroying a heard. Scientist will always need to develop new medications in order to increase production which in turn increases profit.

-Katelynn Shelby McCarthy