Pig genetics: insight in minipigs

The sequence of the pig has now been published. Associated with genomic tools such as high density genotyping, (re)sequencing, comparative genetic, it offers new opportunity to understand the genetic basis of complex traits. The challenge is now to get adequate phenotypes. For minipigs, focus is made on traits relevant for medicine, in order to use minipigs as a biomedical model. Because of the number of research fields, specific lines had to be developed and within the last decades, several minipig lines were made available. For example, to specifically study development and regression of cutaneous melanoma, the MeLiM line was built up to largely express this particular trait. It was then possible to study the genetic determinism of this trait and acquire knowledge relevant for human disease, and in a lesser extent also relevant for pig production. Currently, one of our aims is to develop a minipig line adequate for studies on human nutrition related diseases, such as obesity or atherosclerosis. This approach first requires the characterization of minipigs to understand the genetic determinism of their behavior but also some physiological parameters related to human nutrition