Future Perspectives in Pig Reproductive Biotechnology

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 392

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201106, China
Interests: semen cryopreservation; spermatogenesis; oocyte and early embryo development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decades, advances in pig reproductive biotechnology have revolutionized both agricultural and biomedical landscapes, offering transformative solutions for sustainable food production, disease modeling, and xenotransplantation. However, the rapid evolution of technologies such as CRISPR-based genome engineering, somatic cell nuclear transfer, and artificial uterus systems has also highlighted critical gaps in interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical frameworks, and translational scalability. These challenges underscore the need for a unified approach to harness the full potential of these innovations while addressing societal and regulatory concerns.

This Special Issue, ‘Future Perspectives in Pig Reproductive Biotechnology’, aims to synthesize cutting-edge research and forward-looking insights across disciplines, from molecular genetics to veterinary medicine and bioethics. By emphasizing emerging tools—including in vitro gametogenesis, stem cell applications, and precision breeding—we seek to bridge the divide between foundational research and real-world implementation. One of our core objectives is to highlight synergies between agricultural and biomedical goals, such as developing disease-resistant livestock and advancing porcine–human organ transplantation. Additionally, this Special Issue will explore the ethical implications and policy adaptations required to responsibly scale these technologies.

To complement the existing literature, which often focuses narrowly on technical milestones, this collection prioritizes holistic perspectives, integrating scalability, socioeconomic impacts, and cross-species applicability. By uniting diverse expertise, we aim to catalyze collaborations that address global challenges in food security, health, and sustainability while fostering responsible innovation.

We invite contributions that illuminate pathways to ethical and scalable breakthroughs, driving this dynamic field toward impactful, globally relevant outcomes.

Dr. Lingwei Sun
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • pig reproductive biotechnology
  • genome editing
  • somatic cell nuclear transfer
  • stem cell applications
  • precision breeding

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 1617 KiB  
Article
Genomic Analysis of Reproductive Trait Divergence in Duroc and Yorkshire Pigs: A Comparison of Mixed Models and Selective Sweep Detection
by Changyi Chen, Yu He, Juan Ke, Xiaoran Zhang, Junwen Fei, Boxing Sun, Hao Sun and Chunyan Bai
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(7), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070657 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate population genetic differences related to reproductive traits between Duroc and Yorkshire (Dutch Large White) pigs using two approaches: linear mixed models that dissect additive and dominant effects, and selective sweep analysis. (1) Methods: Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate population genetic differences related to reproductive traits between Duroc and Yorkshire (Dutch Large White) pigs using two approaches: linear mixed models that dissect additive and dominant effects, and selective sweep analysis. (1) Methods: Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data of 3917 Duroc and 3217 Yorkshire pigs were analyzed. The first principal component (PC1) was used as a simulated phenotype to capture population-level variance. Additive and dominant genetic effects were partitioned and evaluated by using the combination of the linear mixed models (LMM) and ADDO’s algorithm (LMM + ADDO). In parallel, selective sweep signals were detected using fixation index (FST) and nucleotide diversity (θπ) analyses. A comparative assessment was then conducted between the LMM + ADDO and the selective sweep analysis results. Significant loci were annotated using quantitative trait loci (QTL) databases and the Ensembl genome browser. (2) Results: There are 39040 SNPs retained after quality control. Using the LMM + ADDO framework with PC1 as a simulated phenotype, a total of 632 significant SNPs and 184 candidate genes were identified. Notably, 587 SNPs and 171 genes were uniquely detected by the LMM + ADDO method and not among loci detected by the top 5% of FST and θπ values. Key candidate genes associated with litter size included HSPG2, KAT6B, SAMD8, and LRMDA, while DLGAP1, MYOM1, and VTI1A were associated with teat number traits. (3) Conclusions: This study demonstrates the power of integrating additive and dominant effect modeling with population genetics approaches for the detection of genomic regions under selection. The findings provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of reproductive traits in pigs and have practical implications for understanding the inheritance of complex traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Perspectives in Pig Reproductive Biotechnology)
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