Integrative genotype-environment association and single-cell transcriptomic analyses identify candidate mechanisms of environmental adaptation in pigs.

Genomic regions and candidate genes linked to high-altitude adaptation, including ultraviolet radiation response genes, were identified in 146 pig populations using integrated GEA methods.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic mechanisms of environmental adaptation in pigs addresses a gap in knowledge about how domesticated livestock evolve to thrive across diverse ecological zones, which is vital for livestock breeding and conservation.
• What they did: The study analyzed 1,151 pig genome sequences with three GEA frameworks—RDA, BayPass, and LFMM—and incorporated lung scRNA sequencing from high-altitude and commercial breeds to identify candidate genes and regulatory pathways.
• The result: ASXL1 and the NOTCH signaling pathway emerged as potential contributors to high-altitude adaptation, highlighting complex regulatory landscapes and advancing insights into genetic and molecular bases of environmental adaptation in pigs.