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GENETICS OF PIGSGaina FlaviaBardulete AndraGrupa: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 number and broadening their range outside human control.

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, forwardpointing 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" because of their vibrant coats.

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.