Cellular and molecular approaches for altering muscle growth and development

Abstract

Understanding the cellular and molecular processes involved in the development of muscle is necessary to develop new strategies for improving the efficiency of meat-animal production. The objectives of this paper are to review some of the processes of muscle development important to meat animal production, including meat quality, and to identify potential cellular and molecular biological approaches to alter these developmental processes. Some of the processes by which muscle develops can be exploited in order to develop in vivo models for further study of muscle growth. Cell-mediated gene transfer and direct DNA injection are among the many techniques that can be used to develop in vivo animal models, and these models can be developed in meat-producing species. Many of these models will undoubtedly lead to the development of strategies to enhance meat-animal production. Key words: Myogenesis, gene transfer, DNA, muscle fiber, meat quality