Marker Nomenclature and Control of Type I and Type II Errors in Cattle Parentage Verification Using Microsatellite Markers

Abstract — Wrong pedigree records reduce the quality of cattle breeding. For these reasons, DNA-based parentage verification has become an integral part of breeding work. Traditionally, in the Russian Federation, parentage verification was performed using immunogenetic markers. However, the improvement of technologies and strengthening of regulatory requirements have led to the fact that in recent years, microsatellite markers have replaced immunogenetics. Currently, there is no Russian protocol that clearly regulates the procedure of cattle parentage verification using microsatellite loci, which complicates the work of testing laboratories. In particular, the requirements for the number and nomenclature of genetic markers to be used in testing exist only for cattle, embryos, and sperm products transported between the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. There are no requirements for the control of type I (false positive results) and type II (false negative results) errors, to be considered in certification. In this paper the approaches to solving these issues suggested by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG), the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR), the Collegium of the Eurasian Economic Commission, as well as Russian regulatory documents governing forensic medical examination procedure related to the parentage assignment, will be considered. Based on the results of this review, a nomenclature of microsatellite markers and the examination protocol, which includes control of type I and type II errors, will be provided. Particular attention will be paid to the description of sources of type II errors and the need to control them in issuing a certificate.