Super Cows are on the way and they will not be recognizable.
Image source: http://www.strangeanimals.info/2010/12/belgian-blue-super-cow.html
I discovered from a friend that ranchers are now have access to DNA testing. This was made possible by a company that has been produces DNA kits since November. The DNA kits are ordered on-line. The rancher takes the sample and mails it to the lab for DNA analysis. This DNA data is provided to the rancher and is being added to a massive database that is growing fast.
The cow pictured above was a result of selective breeding and not from finding traits from DNA testing. It was actually caused by a natural rare genetic mutation that makes the cow grow huge muscles with very little fat. The mutation is that the muscles have double the muscle fibers than they should normally have. This trait is normally recessive, but with selective breeding, this trait was made to be a dominate trait.
Selective breeding is very common, but now add in DNA testing along with a database and you have a game changer. What this means is that normally it takes years to determine if a select bull passes on specific traits. Now cows can be tested and ranked on their full spectrum of genetic traits to pass on before the breeding even begins. Instead of trying to get one or two genetic traits to pass to the next generation, a database allows many traits to be married to get a super cow.
The thought is that cows can be selected to be disease resistant, be able to thrive on selective type of vegetation for the area they are raised, or even bred to thrive in certain environments. The reality is much more than that. The DNA opens up the breeding process to make some real crazy mutations.
It is funny that years ago when people would ask me what I want to do with my life would tell them: "I want to genetically modify a cow to produce strawberry milk." Of course it was a joke. I did this because I liked strawberry milk. Now with DNA testing and database is a reality, fresh strawberry flavored milk or even chocolate milk straight from the cow may be in our future.
What do you think?
Do you think it is right?
What genetic modification would you want in your cow if you had the choice?