Casein gene cluster variability in dromedary camel population of United Arab Emirates

Genetic polymorphisms causing variation in casein genes (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2 and CSN3) gene have been extensively studied in goat and cows, however, such studies are very limited in camels so far. We aimed to identify various CSN alleles that could be associated with different level of expression in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dromedary population. We sequenced the whole gene each in casein gene cluster by Next Generation Sequencing identified and characterized novel gene variants in 93 she-camels. Most of the variants were found in non -coding intron and upstream sequences and there were only very few variants with functional consequences. More investigations are required to find the functional impact of these variants on the milk quantity and quality.