Building a Bovine Blood Genomic EpiMap Related to disease Phenotypes
This study investigates DNA methylation variability in dairy cows to understand its role in immune regulation and adaptive resilience. Using enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq) on whole blood from 60 Holstein cows, we identified 5.1% Variable Methylated Cytosines (VMCs) and 94.9% Conserved Methylated Cytosines (CMCs). VMCs were enriched in regulatory regions, suggesting transcriptional plasticity, while CMCs exhibited stable patterns linked to essential functions. A set of 586 methylation biomarkers showed potential for disease risk assessment and herd management. These findings highlight the interplay between epigenetic stability and adaptability in cattle.