MICROSATELLITE MAPPING OF A GENE AFFECTING HORN DEVELOPMENT IN BOS-TAURUS

The presence or absence of horns in Bos taurus is thought to be under the genetic control of the autosomal polled locus, characterized by tw o alleles: P dominant over p, and causing the polled or hornless pheno type. We have demonstrated genetic linkage between the polled locus an d two microsatellite markers, GMPOLL-1 and GMPOLL-2, and have assigned the corresponding linkage group to bovine chromosome 1. This confirms the existence of the postulated polled locus and the hypothesized inh eritance pattern. It will allow marker assisted selection for the poll edness trait in breeding programs and is a first step towards position al cloning and molecular study of a gene that has been subjected to bo th natural and artificial selection.