Genetic diversity of pig breeds on ten production quantitative traits loci

Genetic structure of 11 pig breeds and lines of different origins and productivity specialization for 10 quantitative traits loci-RYR1, GH, IGF2, CTSL, CTSS, CTSB, CTSK, MC4R, ESR1, and PRLR-was analyzed. The results allow us to suggest that the uniqueness of genetic structure of each breed is largely determined by features of the allelic structure of a number of loci. Breeds of different productivity specialization significantly differ for such QTL as RYR1, MC4R, ESR1 and IGF2. However, we have found that the loci CTSB, CTSL, CTSK, CTSS, and PRLR in most investigated breeds showed similar distribution of alleles, and significant genetic differentiation between breeds and within breeds for these loci was absent. The exception is the Large Black breed for the CTSB locus and Ukrainian Steppe Spotted breed for the CTSL locus. Also, it can be assumed that peculiarities of allelic structure of some investigated loci were more associated with the origins of pig breeds than with the selection based on the productivity traits. This refers, for example, to the growth hormone gene, the use of which in marker assisted selection could be effective only in some populations. The genetic distances between breeds and lines were determined and the dendrogram of the genetic interactions was built. Breeds on the dendrogram were grouped according to the productivity specialization and according to their origins.