Identifying Variation In The U.S. Bovine Prion Gene

... Do genes affect bovine spongiform encephalopathy--also known as BSE, or "mad cow" disease? Are some cattle more susceptible than others? To address these and other questions, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., have sequenced the bovine prion gene (PRNP) in 192 cattle that represent 16 beef and five dairy breeds common in the United States. ...