The answer lies in genetics

New research on epigenetic foetal overgrowth disorder, which occurs in humans and cattle, has found that the disease may be curbed after several common genes have been discovered. In humans, it is called Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), and in cattle, it is referred to as large offspring syndrome (LOS). The disorder can lead to overgrowth of foetuses and cause physical abnormalities in cattle, which often result in the deaths of newborn calves.

Researchers at the University of Missouri identified a number of genes that contribute to LOS in cattle. Rocío Melissa Rivera, associate professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, says identifying these genes in cattle will help with the search for the genes that cause BWS in humans. “Because these disorders have been associated with pregnancies from in-vitro fertilisation, knowing which genes cause these disorders will allow doctors to choose embryos for implantation that do not have the molecular markers for BWS.” To read more, click HERE.