GENETICS OF

PIGS

Gaina Flavia
Bardulete Andra
Grupa:3105

GENERALITIES ABOUT PIGS

A pigis any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the
Suidae family of eventoed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic
pig and its ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar (Sus
scrofa), along with other species related creatures outside the
genus include the babirusa and the warthog. Pigs, like all suids,
are native to the Eurasian and African continents. Juvenile pigs
are known as piglets. Pigs are omnivores and are highly social
and intelligent animals.
A typical pig has a large head with a long snout which is
strengthened by a special prenasal bone and by a disk of
cartilage at the tip.
The snout is used to dig into the
soil to find food and is a very acute sense organ. There are four
hoofed toes on each trotter (foot), with the two larger central
toes bearing most of the weight, but the outer two also being
used in soft ground

With around 1 billion individuals alive at

any time, the domesticated pig is one of the most
numerous large mammals on the planet. The
ancestor of the domesticated pig is the wild boar,
which is one of the most numerous and
widespread large mammals. Its many subspecies
are native to all but the harshest climates of
continental Eurasia and its islands and Africa as
well, from Ireland and India to Japan and north to
Siberia. Although it has been exterminated in
some areas, its numbers are stable, or even
increasing rapidly, in most of its native range.
Long isolated from other pigs on the
many islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the
Philippines, pigs have evolved into many different
species, including wild boar, bearded pigs, and
warty pigs. Humans have introduced pigs into
Australia, North and South America, and numerous
islands, either accidentally as escaped domestic
pigs which have gone feral, or as wild boar. These
have typically adapted well, and are increasing in

COLORS OF PIGS
You might be surprised to learn that there is not actually such a thing as a "pink" pig. While there are hundreds of registered
breeds of pigs, none is a true pink. Pigs come in a variety of colors and patterns. Several colors constitute some of the most common
among pig breeds. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is located on the surface of melanocytes (pigment cells) and is involved with
switching melanin synthesis from the lighter red to yellow pheomelanin to the darker brown 4 to black eumelanin. Most animals are
capable of producing both pigments and have various shades of color distributed throughout their hair coats.
Mutations in the MC1R can add interesting color patterns ranging from the all black phenotype of Chinese Meishan pigs to the all
red color of the Irish Setter. Given the number of alleles within baramins (created kinds), much of the diversity at this locus must have
developed since the genetic bottleneck at the Flood where only a single breeding pair was preserved for most baramins. Similarly,
humans carry more alleles than can be accounted for by Noah and his family.

White
There are many types of
Landrace breeds, including the
American Landrace and the Swedish
Landrace. Although Landrace pigs
are described frequently as being
pink, according to their breed
description they technically are
white in color.
These medium to large pigs are
distinguished by their large, floppy
ears, and they range in size from
trim to very potbellied.

Black
Certain breeds of pig are all
black, such as the British Large
Black and the Black Iberian. The
Large Black's dark coloring
distinguish them from Landrace
pigs, though they are similar in
shape and size.
This breed typically is very
potbellied, with droopy, forward
pointing ears. This pig is easy to
keep and is a popular meat pig.
The Black Iberian looks like the
Large Black, but is only found
typically in Spain.

Red
Several breeds of
pig are red in color. The
hues of these breeds
range from rustcolored to
gold. The Tamworth, one
of the oldest British swine
breeds, is recognized by
its long, rustcolored hair.
The Duroc, a
relatively new breed
originating in New York in
the 1800s, has a dark rust
or burnt orange color.
These pigs often are
called simply "red pigs"

Spotted
Many breeds produce pigs
with black and white markings,
including the Saddleback, the
Spotted and the Oxford Sandy
and Black (OSB).
The Saddleback pig is all
black except for a band of
white running from one foreleg
across the back and down the
other foreleg.
The Spotted has large
black and white spots, while
the OSB is white or reddish
with black splotches.

FACTS ABOUT PIGS

Pigs are extraordinarily intelligent. They are curious and
insightful animals who are widely accepted as being smarter than
young children of at least 3 years of age, dogs, and even some
primates.
Pigs are extremely social animals. They form close bonds with
other individuals and love close contact and lying down together.
Pigs are very clean, keeping their toilet area far away from where
they lie down and eat. Even newborn piglets will leave the nest to
go to the toilet within hours of birth.
Pigs are very peaceful animals, rarely showing aggression. The
exception, as with many animals, is when a mother (sow) with her
young offspring is provoked or threatened.
Wild pigs play an important role in managing ecosystems and
maintaining biodiversity. By rooting, and thus disturbing the soil,
they create areas for new plant colonisation. They also spread fruit
plants by dispersing their seeds.
Pigs have a tremendous sense of smell. The large round disk of
cartilage at the tip of the snout is connected to muscle that gives it
extra flexibility and strength for rooting in the ground.

 Winston Churchill famously said that Dogs look up to man.

Cats look down to man. Pigs look us straight in the eye and see
an equal.
There are numerous stories of pigs that have saved the lives
of humans. For example, a pet pig called Pru pulled her owner
out of a muddy bog, and another, Priscilla, saved a young boy
from drowning.
The pig is the last of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. The
pig is seen to represent, fortune, honesty, happiness and virility.
The meat of pigs is widely eaten by people across the world.
Many people who consume animal products would like to choose
products from animals kept in higher welfare systems. However
welfare labelling on products can be confusing. Find out more
about OneKind's campaign for Better Food Labelling.
Pigs are used in experiments in the UK.