Genome-wide analysis of structural variants reveals genetic differences in Chinese pigs

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 24;12(10):e0186721. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186721. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Pigs have experienced long-term selections, resulting in dramatic phenotypic changes. Structural variants (SVs) are reported to exert extensive impacts on phenotypic changes. We built a high resolution and informative SV map based on high-depth sequencing data from 66 Chinese domestic and wild pigs. We inferred the SV formation mechanisms in the pig genome and used SVs as materials to perform a population-level analysis. We detected the selection signals on chromosome X for northern Chinese domestic pigs, as well as the differentiated loci across the whole genome. Analysis showed that these loci differ between southern and northern Chinese domestic pigs. Our results based on SVs provide new insights into genetic differences in Chinese pigs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • China
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Selection, Genetic
  • Sus scrofa / genetics*
  • Swine
  • X Chromosome

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Special Foundation for Transgenic Species of China (2014ZX0800950B-003) to Yiqiang Zhao, Whole Genome Analysis and Introduction of Important Functional Genes in Animals (948 Program) (2012-G1 (4)) to Xiaoxiang Hu, and the National Program on the Key Basic Research Project (973 Program) (2014CB138501) to Ran Zhang.