Gametic imprinting effects on rate and composition of pig growth.

Genetic improvement schemes in livestock are based on the assumption that the expression of relevant genes is independent of parent of origin. Until now no evidence has been found to reject this assumption. The present study on three purebred pig populations, however, shows that a significant proportion of the phenotypic variance in backfat thickness (5-7%) can be explained by genes subject to paternal imprinting.

A comparative study on the use of bovine and murine monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization in cattle.

In the present experiments the efficacy of murine and bovine monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization in cattle was compared. The in vivo immunoneutralization of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) by murine and bovine antibodies after repeated administration was chosen as a model for this study. Results indicate that repeated injections of murine monoclonal antibodies against PMSG (mMCA) alone did not, or only to a small extent, elicit an anti-mouse immune response.