W‐specific microsatellite loci detected by in silico analysis map to chromosome Z of the chicken genome

the hypothesis that the QTN is of Chinese origin.Chinese Meishan and Erhualian are two subgroups of the Taihu breed. 6Both historical records and molecular data indicate that Chinese domestic pigs were introduced into Europe in the 19th century. 7Considering our observation of the mutant A allele in some Chinese breeds and the Chinese origin of the Q chromosome, it is conceivable that the 3072G>A transition occurred in China either during or after domestication and that the favourable A allele was introgressed into European domestic pigs about 200 years ago.The frequency of allele A increased gradually in Western commercial pig populations because of the intensive selection in growth and carcass traits.Whether the mutation arose before or after pig domestication in China is still unknown; analysis of Chinese wild pigs may resolve this.