Double muscling is the term used to designate a muscle hypertrophy characteristic of cattle and Texel sheep. It is due to a mutation in the myostatin (MSTN) gene, which encodes the growth-regulating factor myostatin. Muscle hypertrophy arises from an increased total number of fibers.
Is double muscling good?
It is also beneficial for the consumer, as leaner meat may be favorable with regard to coronary and heart diseases [5]. Double-muscled (DM) animals produce very lean meat. They can be classified as an extreme type of late maturing animals [6]. They are often defined as animals with muscle hypertrophy.
Is double muscling a recessive trait?
Abstract. Double muscling is a partially recessive trait present in some beef breeds. It shows a high frequency in some breeds, while in others the frequency is low, and double-muscled individuals are rare.
Why are some cows more muscular than others?
History. Some breeds of cattle do not possess the myostatin gene that helps regulate muscle growth. This causes them to have more muscle mass and yields more meat for the cattle farmers. Two of the breeds that possess the double muscle gene are the Piedmontese and the Parthenais.
Which gene would you suspect causes double muscling?
Since double - muscling is a recessive trait, it has a normal phenotype due to the normal myostatin allele.
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