Abstract
Simple SummaryAssessing and understanding the genetic resources of indigenous livestock populations is necessary to address issues associated with conservation and domestic supply, etc. This study examined the Korean native pig (KNP; Sus scrofa coreanus), which is among the native porcine breeds in South Korea, in terms of its overall genetic diversity and ancestry. According to 60K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) BeadChip analyses, the KNP pig showed similarity to Western breeds than to Chinese breeds. This conclusion runs contrary to popular belief as a Chinese origin of KNP pigs, as suggested by previous historical and genetic studies. We also describe the possibility of potential biases in the analysis results.The Korean native pig (KNP; Sus scrofa coreanus) is an indigenous porcine breed in South Korea considered as a valuable but dwindling genetic resource. Studies using diverse methodologies and genetic markers suggest that this population originated from the Manchu province of Northeastern China and migrated approximately 3000 years ago into the Korean peninsula. This study aimed to verify those findings by performing diversity and ancestral analyses using the 60K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) BeadChip on 891 pigs of 47 breeds worldwide. We also performed principal component analysis (PCA), ancestry analyses, phylogenetic tree analysis using SNPhylo, and linkage disequilibrium analysis. Furthermore, we generated heatmap, obtained Nei’s genetic distance and FST values, and explored the heterozygosity of commercial and native Korean pigs. The results demonstrated that KNP pigs are more closely related to European breeds than to Chinese breeds. In addition, as previous studies have suggested, our admixture analyses indicated that KNP pigs showed distinguishable genetic structure.
Highlights
Domestication of the pig took place approximately 9000 years ago [1].Subsequently, selective breeding of pig populations has been conducted to cultivate geneticAnimals 2020, 10, 760; doi:10.3390/ani10050760 www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsAnimals 2020, 10, 760 resources and to meet production requirements
Previous studies that compared Korean native pig (KNP) with Western and Chinese pig breeds based on microsatellite markers suggested that KNP originated from the Chinese black-coated pig and subsequently interbred with Western breeds [11]
The KNP population showed an authentic genetic profile among all of the porcine populations studied, especially in the admixed pattern. This population had an intermediate position in the principal component analysis (PCA) plot, more kin to Western breeds, and was located among Western and Asian breeds in the phylogenetic tree analysis
Summary
Selective breeding of pig populations has been conducted to cultivate genetic. Animals 2020, 10, 760 resources and to meet production requirements. Through these various challenges, efforts to discover genetic determinants of the phenotypes of superior breeds worldwide have paid off, i.e., there has been an overall increase in pork production worldwide. Genetic and genomic studies have become increasingly prominent due to advancements in breeding technology. As a priority, understanding population structure prior to the selection and mating of pigs is essential to optimize production. Any country that becomes dependent on imported seedstock due to the lack of a domestic production line may be at a financial disadvantage. Studies on genetic structure are important to safeguard the genetic resources of indigenous livestock populations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
