Reuters: Science News: Scientists map domestic pig's genome

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Scientists map domestic pig's genome Nov 14th 2012, 18:02 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News NY University faces growing criticism after Sandy kills lab mice Wed, Nov 7 2012 Insight: Crunching the numbers to boost odds against cancer Thu, Nov 1 2012 Special Report: Food, beverage industry pays for seat at health-policy table Fri, Oct 19 2012 Barley genome breakthrough may lead to better beer Wed, Oct 17 2012 Analysis & Opinion The real reason for spikes in food prices London sanitation show aims to make "poo" hot topic A sow rests with its piglets at a farm in Hotemaze, October 26, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Srdjan Zivulovic By Chris Wickham LONDON | Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:02pm EST LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have mapped the genome of the domestic pig in a project that could enhance the animal's use in the testing of drugs for human disease. A study, published in science journal Nature, identified genes that could be linked with illnesses suffered by farmed pigs, providing a reference tool for selective breeding to increase their resistance to disease. "This new analysis helps us understand the genetic mechanisms that enable high-quality pork production, feed efficiency and resistance to disease," said Sonny Ramaswany, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. "This knowledge can ultimately help producers breed high-quality swine, lower production costs and improve sustainability." Alan Archibald at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute in Scotland, who worked on the project with collaborators in the Netherlands and the United States, said the new genome sequence was the first good draft. Archibald said while making sense of the analysis would take time, the benefits of genome sequencing flow through more quickly in agriculture than, for instance, human medicine, "because we can use selective breeding". Identifying genes responsible for diseases that are also seen in people could see pigs used more extensively for drug testing. For instance, the inherited illness known as porcine stress syndrome, which can cause sudden death in pigs, has similarities to the human condition malignant hyperthermia which causes a fast and dangerous rise in body temperature in some people under general anesthetic. Some of the genetic faults that pigs share with humans can be linked with conditions as varied as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, dyslexia, obesity and Parkinson's disease, the researchers said. "In total, we found 112 positions where the porcine protein has the same amino acid that is implicated in a disease in humans," they said. (Editing by Dan Lalor) Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above.

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