Raising the steaks with DNA testing
Foodies looking for the tenderest steaks will find their quest much easier soon, thanks to world leading-edge DNA tests being marketed for the first time by Brisbane's Genetic Solutions.
Genetic Solutions was formed in 1998 by Dr Jay Hetzel and Dr Gerard Davis, two scientists formerly employed by the Commonwealth Scientific, Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Late in 2002, Genetic Solutions released the world's first DNA test for beef tenderness.
Then in November last year, a second improved test was released, a two-gene test for tenderness. Genetic Solutions is now on the verge of commercially releasing a new package that has four tests, two for tenderness and two for marbling.
"It's the only package in the world that has four tests," Dr Hetzel said. "The only other similar products I know of come from two American companies, and they're each based on only a single gene."
Genetic Solutions is a world leader in DNA marker technology for beef cattle. The DNA markers enable producers to identify, at an early age, cattle with desirable qualities such as tenderness and marbling.
"We've sold test packages worth about $2 million so far to studs in the United States and South America, as well as here," Dr Hetzel said.
"Our latest test, combined with new technology, will make the tests affordable to the commercial sector. That's a market at least 20 times larger than the stud market."
The test involves taking a hair sample from each animal which is stuck to an individually barcoded card.
The hair samples are analysed at Genetic Solutions' Brisbane laboratory, where each tenderness gene is screened for two possible variants - one associated with increased tenderness and the other with increased toughness.
"The original single gene test was capable of halving the odds of consumers encountering a tough piece of beef," Dr Hetzel said.
"Our research indicates the new two-gene test will halve the odds again."
Marbled beef is particularly important in the largest market for Australian beef, Japan, where the tests have attracted great interest.
Australia is the world's largest beef exporter, a trade worth more than $3.5 billion a year, of which almost half comes from Queensland.
Dr Hetzel said the DNA technique could also be modified for similar testing of sheep meat.
"We're starting to look at that now, but so far we've been kept busy by our beef industry work."
Information: www.geneticsolutions.com.au
Last reviewed 19 January 2006