Book of the cow

Cows are the latest beasts to join the genome club. Maryland biotech firm Metamorphix has announced it has mapped the cow genome, and is now beginning to search for the genes that make meat tender. The map is based on two species. The company sampled both Bos indicus cattle which are common in India and Africa, and Angus, Limousin and Simmental breeds of Bos taurus cattle from Europe. Metamorphix will make its map available to paying customers.