The FAGenomicH project: Towards a whole candidate gene approach to identify markers associated with fatness and production traits in pigs and investigate the pig as a model for human obesity

Fatness in pigs is a complex trait for which a large number of genes are expected to be involved. Genetics of human obesity could take advantages from genetic information coming from the pig and vice versa. To these aims, a comprehensive candidate gene approach could be helpful. We catalogued all genes affecting fatness on both species, and identified in silico and by resequencing porcine SNPs on a large number of candidate genes. In addition, we applied a selective genotyping approach to identify markers associated with fat deposition in pigs. This approach was tested genotyping the IGF2 intron3-g.3072G>A mutation and novel markers in the PCSK1 and TBC1D1 genes. Polymorphisms in these genes resulted associated with back fat thickness in Italian Large White pigs