Scientists decode DNA of pig, a research favorite
CHICAGO — An international group of scientists has decoded the DNA of the domestic pig, research that may one day prove useful in finding new treatments for both pigs and people, and perhaps aid in efforts for a new swine flu vaccine for pigs.
Pigs and humans are similar in size and makeup, and swine are often used in human research. Scientists say they rely on pigs to study everything from obesity and heart disease to skin disorders.
"The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States," said Larry Schook, a University of Illinois in Champaign biomedical science professor who led the DNA sequencing project.
Researchers announced the results of their work Monday at a meeting at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, U.K., one of the organizations involved in the research. They'll spend the meeting discussing ways to use the new information, Schook said.
One of those ways could be the development of a swine flu vaccine for pigs to protect them from the new H1N1 virus that is spreading among people.
The U.S. Agriculture Department announced last week that six pigs from the Minnesota State Fair contracted the new H1N1 virus over the summer, the first report of pigs catching the virus in the United States. The hogs likely got it from fairgoers, officials said.
The new pandemic swine flu is spreading easily among people. It is not spread by handling or eating pork products.
Dr. Richard Gibbs, a Baylor College of Medicine researcher who wasn't involved in the pig genome project, said a lot of work remains before a vaccine for the animals could be available.
"Immune machinery are the most difficult to decipher," he said. "But this is a big step in that direction."
Schook and his team decoded the genome of a red-haired Duroc pig, one of five major breeds used in pork production worldwide. A genome is the full complement of an organism's DNA.
Researchers have unraveled the DNA of about two dozen mammals, including dogs, chimps, rats, mice, cows and people.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Popular News
-
A.R. Rahman, Jennifer Hudson headline state dinner
It's an all-star lineup for Tuesday's first state dinner of the Obama White House: Oscar-winners Jennifer Hudson and A.R. Rahman headline the entertainment list.
-
Senator's affair revealed in text message
A Nevada man whose wife had an affair with Sen. John Ensign said he discovered the relationship after intercepting a text message around Christmas in 2007.
-
China executes 2 for role in tainted milk scandal
China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman Tuesday, the only two people sentenced to death in a scheme to water down infant formula with an industrial chemical that left at least six children dead and sickened more than 300,000.
-
3 Conn. athletes accused of sex assault conspiracy
Three lacrosse players for a Catholic university in New England have been charged with conspiring to sexually assault a female student in a dorm room.
-
Kan. nurse resentenced in `nude therapy' case
A Kansas nurse convicted of enslaving mentally ill residents of a Newton group home was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday after a federal judge acknowledged the original seven-year term was too short.
