Differentiating Pigs from Wild Boars Based on <i>NR6A1</i> and <i>MC1R</i> Gene Polymorphisms

This preliminary study aimed to differentiate domestic pigs from wild boars based on <i>MC1R</i> and <i>NR6A1</i> polymorphisms and to identify admixture between these genomes. We studied samples obtained from wild boars from two regions of Poland and five pig breeds: Polish...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Koseniuk, Grzegorz Smołucha, Małgorzata Natonek-Wiśniewska, Anna Radko, Dominika Rubiś
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2123
Description
Summary:This preliminary study aimed to differentiate domestic pigs from wild boars based on <i>MC1R</i> and <i>NR6A1</i> polymorphisms and to identify admixture between these genomes. We studied samples obtained from wild boars from two regions of Poland and five pig breeds: Polish Landrace, Polish Large White, Złotnicka White, Pulawska and Duroc. Along the <i>MC1R</i> gene sequence, we identified four polymorphic loci comprising three codons. The “wild type” allele was primarily found in wild boar but also in the Duroc and Złotnicka White breeds. Non-wild type alleles were identified in the vast majority of domestic pig samples and in two wild boar samples. Based on <i>MC1R</i> profiles, we conducted a population study, and revealed admixture between both genomes using STRUCTURE and NETWORK Software. Interestingly, an allelic discrimination assay with <i>NR6A1</i> g.748C > T TaqMan probes revealed a clear separation of samples into two groups: wild boar samples representing the C allele and domestic breeds representing the T allele. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that <i>NR6A1</i> g.748C > T is an effective marker for differentiating between wild boars and domestic pigs, where this is supported by <i>MC1R</i> data, to identify admixed profiles. We recommend that a larger sample of genomes is studied to verify this method.
ISSN:2076-2615