Geographic and breed distribution of an Msp IPCR-RFLP in the bovine growthhormone (bGH) gene

Information is presented on the frequency of the Msp I (-) allele in the th ird intron of the bovine growth hormone gene in a large number of cattle br eeds. Consideration of the breed frequencies in relation to their geographi c origin shows a low frequency for breeds originating in Northern Europe, m oderate frequencies for breeds originating in Eastern Europe or the countri es surrounding the Mediterranean basin, and very high frequencies for breed s originating in the Indian subcontinent. Consideration of breed frequencie s in relation to breed type, shows low to moderate frequencies for the hump less breeds, high frequencies for the humped breeds. Various explanations f or this distribution are discussed, among them the possibility that the Msp I (-) allele originated in the Bos indicus breeds of the Indian subcontine nt, from which it diffused through the humpless Bos taurus breeds of Easter n Europe, the Mediterranean basin, eventually reaching Western, Northern Eu rope, Western Africa in low frequencies.