Quantitative Trait Loci Variation for Growth and Obesity Between and Within Lines of Pigs (Sus scrofa)

Corresponding author: Peter M. Visscher, Animal and Population Biology, W. Mains Rd., Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom., peter.visscher{at}ed.ac.uk (E-mail)

Communicating editor: G. CHURCHILL

The hypothesis that quantitative trait loci (QTL) that explain variation between divergent populations also account for genetic variation within populations was tested using pig populations. Two regions of the porcine genome that had previously been reported to harbor QTL with allelic effects that differed between the modern pig and its wild-type ancestor and between the modern pig and a more distantly related population of Asian pigs were studied. QTL for growth and obesity traits were mapped using selectively genotyped half-sib families from five domesticated modern populations. Strong support was found for at least one QTL segregating in each population. For all five populations there was evidence of a segregating QTL affecting fatness in a region on chromosome 7. These findings confirm that QTL can be detected in highly selected commercial populations and are consistent with the hypothesis that the same chromosome locations that account for variation between populations also explain genetic variation within populations.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Uemoto, Y. Nagamine, E. Kobayashi, S. Sato, T. Tayama, Y. Suda, T. Shibata, and K. Suzuki Quantitative trait loci analysis on Sus scrofa chromosome 7 for meat production, meat quality, and carcass traits within a Duroc purebred population J Anim Sci, November 1, 2008; 86(11): 2833 - 2839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Kuehn, G. A. Rohrer, D. J. Nonneman, R. M. Thallman, and K. A. Leymaster Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ultrasonic backfat depth in a segregating Meishan x White Composite population J Anim Sci, May 1, 2007; 85(5): 1111 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. van Wijk, B. Dibbits, E. E. Baron, A. D. Brings, B. Harlizius, M. A. M. Groenen, E. F. Knol, and H. Bovenhuis Identification of quantitative trait loci for carcass composition and pork quality traits in a commercial finishing cross J Anim Sci, April 1, 2006; 84(4): 789 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Vidal, J. L. Noguera, M. Amills, L. Varona, M. Gil, N. Jimenez, G. Davalos, J. M. Folch, and A. Sanchez Identification of carcass and meat quality quantitative trait loci in a Landrace pig population selected for growth and leanness J Anim Sci, February 1, 2005; 83(2): 293 - 300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Varona, O. Vidal, R. Quintanilla, M. Gil, A. Sanchez, J. M. Folch, M. Hortos, M. A. Rius, M. Amills, and J. L. Noguera Bayesian analysis of quantitative trait loci for boar taint in a Landrace outbred population J Anim Sci, February 1, 2005; 83(2): 301 - 307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Walling, P. M. Visscher, A. D. Wilson, B. L. McTeir, G. Simm, and S. C. Bishop Mapping of quantitative trait loci for growth and carcass traits in commercial sheep populations J Anim Sci, August 1, 2004; 82(8): 2234 - 2245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Nsengimana, P. Baret, C. S. Haley, and P. M. Visscher Linkage Disequilibrium in the Domesticated Pig Genetics, March 1, 2004; 166(3): 1395 - 1404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. de Koning, R. Pong-Wong, L. Varona, G. J. Evans, E. Giuffra, A. Sanchez, G. Plastow, J. L. Noguera, L. Andersson, and C. S. Haley Full pedigree quantitative trait locus analysis in commercial pigs using variance components J Anim Sci, September 1, 2003; 81(9): 2155 - 2163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. J. Evans, E. Giuffra, A. Sanchez, S. Kerje, G. Davalos, O. Vidal, S. Illan, J. L. Noguera, L. Varona, I. Velander, et al. Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Production Traits in Commercial Pig Populations Genetics, June 1, 2003; 164(2): 621 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]