SCIENCE / MEDICINE : Genetic Clues to Cheese-Making

UC Davis researchers say they have been able to use genetic techniques to identify cows whose milk makes the best cheese.

The dairy project opens the door for animal breeding for specific economic objectives, said Juan Medrano, assistant professor of animal science at UC Davis.

The research identified the best combination of dairy cow genes to produce milk proteins that make better cheese. Sixty-seven percent of California milk goes into cheese products.

The research developed techniques that could be used to identify genes for various purposes, Medrano said, such as making agricultural animals resistant to specific diseases.

The process is done by extracting DNA from animals and then analyzing it with computerized equipment, a method that is easier and cheaper than current means of genetic identification, Medrano said.