Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism analysis reveals recent genetic introgression from domestic pigs into Northwest European wild boar populations

Present-day genetic introgression from domestic pigs into European wild boar has been suggested in various studies. However, no hybrids have been identified beyond doubt mainly because available methods were unable to quantify the extent of introgression and rule out natural processes. Genetic introgression from domestic pigs may have far-reaching ecological consequences by altering traits like the reproduction rate or immunology of wild boar. In this study, we demonstrate a novel approach to investigate genetic introgression in a Northwest (NW) European wild boar data set using a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay developed for domestic pigs. We quantified the extent of introgression using allele frequency spectrum analysis, in silico hybridization simulations and genome distribution patterns of introgressed SNPs. Levels of recent introgression in the study area were expected to be low, as pig farming practices are prevailingly intensive and indoors. However, eviden...

多项研究均已提出，家猪向欧洲野猪的当代遗传渐渗（genetic introgression）现象广泛存在。然而，目前尚未有确凿无疑的杂交个体被鉴定出来，主要原因在于现有方法无法准确量化渐渗程度，也难以排除自然演化过程的干扰。家猪向野猪的遗传渐渗可能通过改变野猪的繁殖率、免疫学特性等性状，引发影响深远的生态效应。本研究借助一款专为家猪开发的全基因组单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP）检测技术，针对西北欧（NW）野猪数据集开展遗传渐渗研究，并提出了一种全新的分析思路。我们通过等位基因频谱分析、计算机模拟杂交实验以及渐渗SNP的基因组分布模式，对渐渗程度进行了量化评估。鉴于研究区域内的养猪模式普遍为集约化舍饲养殖，我们推测该区域近期的遗传渐渗水平较低。然而，有证据显示（eviden...）