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It is very common in India that with low priced cow milk adulterated high priced buffalo milk. Various techniques are available in market to identify the origin of milk but all these techniques have their own limitations. Thus, DNA based technologies are preferred now a days to identify the origin of food products from animal sources due to high sensitivity and specificity. Currently a PCR based method was developed to identify cow milk in raw buffalo milk. DNA was isolated from milk by DNeasy Mericon food kit (Quiagen,USA) which resulted in DNA of requisite quality for downstream applications. A bovine specific primer targeting D-loop (displacement) of mt- DNA (mitochondrial) was selected and standardized to amplify cow DNA. Specificity of primer was tested across the species in the genomic DNA isolated from both milk and blood. The protocol can be sensitive to detect upto 5% level of cow milk in the buffalo milk. Designed protocol was efficient, robust and sensitive and could be used as a platform test in routine quality analysis laboratory. Hence, it could be a great alternative for other protein based methods to identify cow milk in buffalo milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant form of DNA polymorphism which can be used as simple genetic markers for many breeding applications as well as for population studies. SNPs in fecundity (Fec) genes viz. BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 were genotyped in Indian goat breeds to assess their basic population parameters and genetic structuring, using simple and economical methods of PCR-RFLP and Tetra-primer ARMS PCR. Three hundred and ninety one animals of seven different goat breeds differing in prolificacy, utility and geographic distribution were employed for diversity assessment at six loci in these Fec genes. Four loci were polymorphic in all the breeds with varied allelic frequencies. Statistical analysis revealed that breeds differed with respect to genetic variability as observed heterozygosity varied from 0.163 (Ganjam) to 0.359 (Jakhrana). Sangamneri and Osmanabadi were least differentiated (0.003) whereas Jakhrana and Black Bengal were most differentiated (0.048) on the basis of genetic distance. The genetic distance as well as PCA analysis indicated that breeds are grouped according to their geographical distribution. The genetic diversity based on fecundity genes presented here is an essential step towards the future exploitation of the available goat genetic resources in research and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]