Multiple Domestication Centers of the Indian Pig Population

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Archaeogenetics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Pig domestication is a key event in human history, with India recognized as a potential domestication center.
• Previous studies lacked high-resolution genetic data, particularly complete mitogenomes, for Indian pigs.
• Systematic investigation into the genetic roots and domestication history of Indian pigs is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the origin and evolution of Indian pigs using mitochondrial genetic data.
• To complement existing archaeological data with high-resolution genetic insights.
• To determine the phylogenetic status of Indian pig breeds using a global dataset.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of available mitochondrial DNA (mitogenome) data from Indian pig breeds.
• Incorporation of a global dataset comprising 239 complete mitogenomes.
• Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian and maximum likelihood tree methods.

Main Results:

• Identification of at least eight distinct haplogroups within Indian pigs, diverging from three main branches.
• Discovery of two haplogroups geographically restricted to India, suggesting local domestication.
• Evidence for an independent domestication event in North India (∼5,000 YBP) and a later arrival of Asian lineages in Northeast India.

Conclusions:

• North Indian farmers may have independently domesticated local wild boars, forming a unique domestic lineage.
• A distinct domestic pig lineage entered India more recently, primarily in the Northeast, with island populations linked to Vietnam.
• The findings highlight the complex, multi-layered history of pig domestication in India, influenced by both local events and external migrations.