A genome-wide association study on androstenone levels in pigs reveals a cluster of candidate genes on chromosome 6.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In many countries, male piglets are castrated shortly after birth because a proportion of un-castrated male pigs produce meat with an unpleasant flavour and odour. Main compounds of boar taint are androstenone and skatole. The aim of this high-density genome-wide association study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with androstenone levels in a commercial sire line of pigs. The identification of major genetic effects causing boar taint would accelerate the reduction of boar taint through breeding to finally eliminate the need for castration.

Results

The Illumina Porcine 60K+SNP Beadchip was genotyped on 987 pigs divergent for androstenone concentration from a commercial Duroc-based sire line. The association analysis with 47,897 SNPs

SUBMITTER: Duijvesteijn N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2889844 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature