Plant & Animal Genome VI Conference

S14

UTILIZATION OF CANDIDATE GENES AND QTL IN SWINE

PIC Group, Fyfield Wick, Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 5NA, United Kingdom

The identification of the causative mutation for porcine stress syndrome in 1991 (MacLennan et al.) announced genome research to the swine industry. Breeders were immediately able to utilize a simple PCR RFLP to address an issue of real economic importance. At this time research groups began to create divergent crosses in order to map quantitative trait loci. In 1994 the ESR marker was found to be associated with variation in litter size (Rothschild et al.) and a major QTL for growth and carcass traits was identified in a cross between wild boar and Large White (Andersson et al.). The industry was now faced with a new set of tools and the problems of how to utilize markers impacting quantitative traits. By the end of 1997 swine markers have been announced for litter size (5), product quality (4), growth performance (2) and a congenital defect. Many QTL have been found for these and additional traits. Results will be presented indicating the impact of some of these markers, the problems that remain and the approaches being taken to ensure that the swine industry can fully utilize the latest research results.