Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | Science : Genetics | print version

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Pig DNA Is Decoded, a Boon for Research

by CBSNews.com

Thanks to rod-the-farmer for the link.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/02/tech/main5494650.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.11

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(AP) 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.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/02/tech/main5494650.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.11

Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #429135 by aquilacane on November 3, 2009 at 1:51 am

oink!

Other Comments by aquilacane

2. Comment #429145 by kyleclements on November 3, 2009 at 2:28 am

"The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States," said Larry Schook

what a fantastic quote.

Other Comments by kyleclements

3. Comment #429151 by MarcCountry on November 3, 2009 at 3:08 am

Did they find the sinfulness?

Other Comments by MarcCountry

4. Comment #429167 by Innova on November 3, 2009 at 5:04 am

"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."

I thought swine flu had nothing to do with pigs?

Other Comments by Innova

5. Comment #429174 by ozturk on November 3, 2009 at 6:02 am

@Innova - I gather from the article that it doesn't come 'from' pigs or pork products, but apparently pigs can catch it.

Other Comments by ozturk

6. Comment #429191 by meisteh on November 3, 2009 at 9:37 am

"The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States," said Larry Schook

I've got to repeat what kyleclements said. Fantastic!

Other Comments by meisteh

7. Comment #429213 by Roy_H on November 3, 2009 at 10:58 am

Q. How long did it take them to decode it?
A. About a weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

OK, I'll get my coat......

Other Comments by Roy_H

8. Comment #429228 by Rosbif on November 3, 2009 at 1:04 pm

"The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States,"

Quote of the year! Although a little harsh I feel; pigs are not known for ignoring reality or for believing in fairy tales. However, they probably do think pigs are sacred and should not be eaten, but at least that is for a logical reason in their case.

Other Comments by Rosbif

9. Comment #429234 by Szymanowski on November 3, 2009 at 1:35 pm

This discovery could save our bacon.

Other Comments by Szymanowski

10. Comment #429267 by canatheist on November 3, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Pigs and humans are similar in size and makeup

...

Sometimes the differences are indistinguishable

Other Comments by canatheist

11. Comment #429275 by TIKI AL on November 3, 2009 at 5:52 pm

"The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States,"

As the relative of a pig farmer in Wisconsin I take offense at your snide comments regarding this quote.

...I don't know of any pigs that lay on the couch all day chain smoking cigarettes while washing down multiple hits of OxyContin with Mountain Dew.

Other Comments by TIKI AL

12. Comment #429279 by Sarmatae1 on November 3, 2009 at 6:19 pm

11. Comment #429275 by TIKI AL

As an American I am taken aback by that egregious misrepresentation. It is Mountain Dew Code Red!

Other Comments by Sarmatae1

13. Comment #429283 by Noodly on November 3, 2009 at 6:36 pm

I wonder what the members of pig meat proscribing religions will make of this?

Are we unclean?

Other Comments by Noodly

14. Comment #429286 by Stafford Gordon on November 3, 2009 at 6:57 pm

Comment 13:

"I wonder what the members of pig meat proscribing religions will make of this?"

Don't worry, they'll make up something; they always do.

Other Comments by Stafford Gordon

15. Comment #429326 by Phil451 on November 3, 2009 at 9:24 pm

Does this mean that now they can genetically engineer bacon that doesn't curl when you cook it?

Other Comments by Phil451

16. Comment #429329 by alaskansee on November 3, 2009 at 9:41 pm

Yes, what will all the apigist make of this. I'm looking forward to the % number, ie 90% of our DNA is the same as........ (name your dogma)

Other Comments by alaskansee

17. Comment #429355 by Alternative Carpark on November 4, 2009 at 12:54 am

Short pig; long pig.

Other Comments by Alternative Carpark

18. Comment #429421 by MarcCountry on November 4, 2009 at 3:17 pm

..., and by 'makeup', they mean you can put lipstick on both.

Other Comments by MarcCountry

19. Comment #429713 by zengardener on November 5, 2009 at 5:03 pm

There are many "kinds" of domestic pigs. I was hoping that they would decode the common anscestor of all domestic pigs.

But whatever they think is more useful first, I guess.

oh, and