Genome-wide detection of selective signatures in a Duroc pig population

The Duroc pig has high adaptability and feeding efficiency, making it one of the most popular pig breeds worldwide. Over long periods of natural and artificial selection, genetic footprints, i.e., selective signatures, were left in the genome. In this study, a Duroc pig population (n=715) was genotyped with the Porcine SNP60K Bead Chip and the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP) Porcine Chip. The relative extended haplotype homozygosity (REHH) method was used for selective signature detection in a subset of the population (n=368), selected to represent a balanced family structure. In total, 154 significant core regions were detected as selective signatures (P<0.01), some of which overlap with previously reported quantitative trait loci associated with several economically important traits, including average daily gain and backfat thickness. Genome annotation for these significant core regions revealed a variety of interesting candidate genes including GATA3, TAF3, ATP5C1, and FGF1. These genes were functionally related to anterior/posterior pattern specification, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling, embryonic skeletal system morphogenesis, and oxidation-reduction processes. This research provides knowledge for the study of selection mechanisms and breeding practices in Duroc and other pigs.