Review article

GENETIC BASIS OF PIG COAT COLOR

Vladimir Margeta ; Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Kristina Budimir ; Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Gordana Kralik ; Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Žarko Radišić ; Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska

Abstract

Pig coat color is not economically an important trait, however, for pig meat con¬sumers in some countries it plays a significant role. European consumers usually prefer meat of white pigs, while Japanese consumers are fond of black pig’s meat. Pig’s coat color is considered a simple trait, but from genetic point of view, such trait is very complex. Genetics of coat color is used as a model for research into gene action and their interactions. Up to the present, existence of seven different alleles that affect variability in pig skin color have been scientifically confirmed. Two alleles are related to the wild-type phenotype, one allele was determined in European wild pig and marked as a referential sequence and the other one occurred in Japanese wild pig. Three alleles are related to the occurrence of the black phenotype. The first allele was determined in the Large Black and the Meishan pig, the second allele, which is related to the occurrence of the black phenotype, was determined in the Hampshire breed, and the third allele was confirmed for the Meishan breed. One allele is connected with the occurrence of the red phenotype in the Duroc breed. The allele that influences occurrence of the spotting phenotype in the Pietrain breed is especially interesting. It was believed that this was the same allele as the one de¬termined in the Hampshire breed for the dominant black color. However, complete sequencing showed that there was an insertion of 2-base pairs in codon 23, which resulted in a shift of reading frame and lead to occurrence of nonfunctional protein. Appearance of black spots is a consequence of the repeated reading frame shift in opposite direction for the purpose of constitutionally active receptor forming. The presence of three alleles for the dominant white color were confirmed, being the recessive i allele for white color, semi-dominant iP allele responsible for occurrence of the „patch“ phenotype and the I allele which carries full dominance for white color. Melanin is the pigment which affects appearance of different colors among pig breeds. It appears as eumelanin and pheomelanin. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a structural protein which enables synthesis of melanin, i.e. a shift from pheomelanin towards eumelanin. MC1R has many different phenotypic variances and this affects the different colors of breeds. White coat color is the most common in European domestic pig breeds, mostly because of the selection process that has been was carried out for the last two centuries.

Keywords

pigs; selection; coat color; genotype; alleles

Hrčak ID:

74640

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/74640

Publication date:

6.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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