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Illinois, Iowa researchers unveil first swine genome

By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Researchers at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) earlier this month have announced the first draft of a swine genome sequence they said would further advance the U.S. pork industry.

”Understanding the swine genome will lead to health advancements in the swine population and accelerate the development of vaccinations for pigs,” said Roger Beachy, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

“This new insight into the genetic makeup of the swine population can help reduce disease and enable medical advancements in both pigs and humans,” he said of the project, which was unveiled at a Nov. 2 conference at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, UK.

Funded by a $10 million NIFA grant in 2006, an international team of scientists, which included an Iowa State University (ISU) professor, the draft sequence would allow university researchers to identify genes useful to U.S. pork production, or as well as in immunity or other important physiological processes in the pig.
Ninety-eight percent complete, researchers said the new pig mapping system would also enhance breeding practices, offer insight into diseases that afflict pigs and help in efforts to preserve the global heritage of rare, endangered and wild pigs.

The total cost of the swine genome project is estimated at $24.3 million, with additional support from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, ISU, the Iowa Pork Producers Assoc. (IPPA) and other private coffers.

In 1989, UIUC scientists selected a red-haired Duroc pig from one of its research farms to use for the sequencing project. One of five major breeds used in the project, the Duroc is among the list of 200 domesticated animals that have had their genomes sequenced.

“The pig is a unique animal that is important for food, and that is used as an animal model for human disease,” said Larry Schook, a University of Illinois (UI) professor of biomedical sciences and leader of the sequencing project.

“And because the native wild animals are still in existence, it is a really exciting animal to look at to learn about the genomic effects of domestication,” he said.

According to a world renowned ISU swine researcher, this first draft of pig genome sequence is an important advance for Iowa as well.
“With Iowa’s number-one ranking, the knowledge we gain from this important scientific advance will add to the competitive advantage of our producers,” said Max Rothschild, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the ISU Department of Animal Science, who is one of the international research team’s co-directors and U.S. Pig Genome Coordinator for the USDA since 1993.

Rothschild is also director of ISU’s Center for Integrated Animal Genomics and holds ISU’s Ensminger International Chair, an endowed position that supports international activities in animal science.

“But ultimately, it’s consumers who’ll benefit,” Rothschild said. “Besides improved pork products, the sequence, or DNA structure, of the pig genome may yield new information important to human health.

“You can’t pick a better model for studying human diseases than the pig. A deeper understanding of the pig genome should translate into enormous opportunities for treating obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other problems,” he added.

Rich Degner, IPPA executive director, said the group is excited about the possibilities this scientific breakthrough has for not only U.S. pork production, but also human health.

“This is an important step in the industry’s efforts to continue producing a safe, nutritious source of protein for the world,” he said. “The IPPA has an excellent working relationship with Iowa State University and we’re pleased to be able to contribute to the university’s efforts in this all-important research.”

Gene tracing
Currently, ISU is using genetic sequences identified in the genome project to trace genes important for reproduction, feed efficiency, growth rate and disease resistance.

“It is cutting-edge work,” Rothschild said. “We’re looking for genes associated with a variety of pig production traits. The goal is improved genetics that allows selection of pigs with more favorable growth and health properties, which would increase producers’ profits.”

In fact, ISU has contributed to the development of a new technology that dramatically increases the number of genes evaluated simultaneously for traits, Rothschild said.

Referred to as the porcine 60K SNP chip, the technology has proven faster, cheaper and much more accurate than previous methods to study the pig’s genetic makeup.

“This should help to make a positive impact on swine production profits by identifying a variety of traits that are hard to improve through traditional selection methods,” Rothschild said. “We hope to be able to use the knowledge gained to help decrease production costs by several dollars per pig in the near future.”

In addition to the USDA, funding and technical support were provided by the European Union SABRE; the Institute for Pig Genetics, Netherlands; INRA Genescope, France; the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan; the National Pork Board, U.S.; the North Carolina Pork Council; the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service; and North Carolina State University.
Under Iowa Code, strict compliance with the hours of service requirements would have either prevented or delayed LP delivery needed to cope with the emergency, Culver added.

“Timely delivery of propane supplies is necessary to protect the public health and safety, and to protect against damage or destruction of private property, including damage to or loss of harvested crops,” he said.

For farmers using propane to dry their corn, Charles Hurburgh – Iowa State University professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering – said corn that is 15 percent or higher in moisture should be dried immediately.

But if corn gets to 18 percent in the field, farmers could just air-dry their grain, said Larry Jons, Central City, Iowa, corn grower.

“With LP being about 75 cents per gallon cheaper than last year, it shouldn’t cost as much to dry the corn down,” he said.

The USDA predicted in September that Iowa would have a record bumper crop this fall, but lowered that expectation by 17 bushels per acre in its Nov. 10 Crop Production Report. As the nation’s leading corn producer, Iowa’s yield is up from 2008 at 171 bushels per acre, to 183 bushels per acre – a slight decrease from the previously predicted 188, with production also predicted to decrease slightly.

“We still see a lot of corn coming out of the fields,” said Mindy Williamson, director of communications for the Iowa Corn Growers Assoc.

“The moisture is dropping and the combines are running. Yields from fields across the state have been exceptional, even with the weather challenges this year.”

11/18/2009