Scientists have identified a new egg-specific gene in cows called JY-1 which is necessary for embryonic development. Aside from the potential in solving infertility problems in cows, it is also speculated that this gene ma y offer clues into the cause of infertility in human women.

"Our research focus is infertility in dairy cows," said Smith. "We want to understand the role of egg quality in infertility and create new solutions for dairy producers to manage their biggest problem. But there could certainly be human implications."

"There may be other related genes in humans that perform the same function as JY-1," Smith said. "We know this gene is necessary for cow embryos to develop, so it makes sense that humans have a related gene with a similar function."

Now that the gene has been identified, the next step would be to study its regulation and how the expression levels affect fertility.

Source: MSU