FTIR spectroscopy with machine learning: A new approach to animal DNA polymorphism screening

Technological advances in recent decades, especially in molecular genetics, have enabled the detection of genetic DNA markers associated with productive characteristics in animals. However, the prospection of polymorphisms based on DNA sequencing is still expensive for the reality of many food-producing regions around the world, such as Brazil, demanding more accessible prospecting methods. In the present study, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and machine learning algorithms were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in animal DNA. The fragments of bovine DNA with well-known polymorphisms were used as a model. The DNA fragments were produced and genotyped by PCR-RFLP and classified according to the genotype (homozygous or heterozygous). FTIR spectra of DNA fragments were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and machine learning algorithms. The best results exhibited 75-95% accuracy in the classification of bovine genotypes. Therefore, FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis can be used as an alternative tool for prospecting polymorphisms in animal DNA. The method can contribute with studies to identify genetic markers associated with animal production and indirectly with food production itself, and reduce pressure on available natural resources.