A POLYMORPHISM IN THE BOVINE GAMMA-S-CRYSTALLIN GENE REVEALED BY ALLELE-SPECIFIC AMPLIFICATION

A polymorphism was detected in the 3' untranslated region of the bovin e gamma-S-crystallin gene by direct sequencing of polymerase chain rea ction (PCR) products from genomic DNA of an N'Dama bull and a Boran co w. A set of three PCR primers was designed to detect this difference a nd thus give allele-specific amplification. The two allele-specific pr imers differ in length by 20 nucleotides so that the allelic products may be distinguished by simple agarose gel electrophoresis following a single PCR reaction. This provides a simple and rapid assay for this polymorphism.