Restriction patterns of mitochondrial DNA in European wild boar and German Landrace

Abstract

For eight European wild boars and eight animals of the domestic breed German Landrace cleavage patterns of mtDNA by 10 restriction endonucleases (BamHI, HindIII, EcoRV, EcoRI, BgIII, ScaI, SacI, Stul, Xbal and Aval) were obtained. The restriction digests yielded either one fragment (EcoRV), 2 (AvaI and SacI), 3 (BgIII, EcoRI and XbaI), 4 (HindIII), 5 (BamHI); 8 (StuI) or 9 fragments (ScaI). The mean total size of mtDNA was calculated to be 16.43 ± 0.15 kb. The restriction sites of mtDNA in wild boar and German Landrace are completely identical. Neither intra- nor interracial polymorphism could be detected. MtDNA cleavage patterns were found to belong to the European A type. It was concluded that the German Landrace originated from European wild boar and that there is no evidence in its breeding history that the female Asian B type was ever used.