2000/04/01 by Elisabetta Giuffra, James Kijas, Valérie Amarger +3 · 4 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock #Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals #Genetic diversity and population structure #Introgression #Domestication #Wild boar #Biology #Subspecies #Domestic pig #Mitochondrial DNA #Livestock #Genetic diversity #Gene pool #Zoology #Genetics #Evolutionary biology #Gene #Ecology #Geography #Demography #Population
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/genetics/154.4.1785
openalex publication_date 2000/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The domestic pig originates from the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). We have sequenced mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genes from wild and domestic pigs from Asia and Europe. Clear evidence was obtained for domestication to have occurred independently from wild boar subspecies in Europe and Asia. The time since divergence of the ancestral forms was estimated at approximately 500,000 years, well before domestication approximately 9,000 years ago. Historical records indicate that Asian pigs were introduced into Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries. We found molecular evidence for this introgression and the data indicated a hybrid origin of some major "European" pig breeds. The study is an advance in pig genetics and has important implications for the maintenance and utilization of genetic diversity in this livestock species.