Genetic link between cattle temperament and autism

(University of Queensland) Researchers have discovered that cattle share an overlap of genes with humans that are critical in brain function and response to fear stimuli. The results open the way for research conducted on behavioural traits in humans to shed further light on temperament in cattle. The study confirms that temperament has a significant genetic basis in cattle - around 35 per cent - and it is the first time a whole genome sequence has been used to analyse temperament in cattle.