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Scientists map genome of inbred pig
“We believe this new genome assembly and transcriptome atlas will further enhance the utility of the Babraham pig as a biomedical model,” said Dr Schwartz.
The model could provide insight into zoonotic diseases.

A near-complete genome assembly for a highly inbred breed of pig has been developed by researchers at The Pirbright Institute.

The Babraham pig, a UK breed derived from the Large White, is genetically consistent across crucial immune-related gene complexes, enabling greater replication in immunological research.

Scientists hope the study, published in Immunogenetics, could pave the way for using the animal as a biomedical model to enhance both animal and human health.

“Once we had generated the genome assembly and assessed likely sources of error, we compared uniformity across the genome with another Babraham pig,” explained Dr John Schwartz, a bioinformatics specialist at Pirbright. 

“Gene transcription data was then used from multiple tissues to investigate gene content and usage within several immune-related gene complexes. This enabled us to confidently characterize and annotate genes involved in immune responses within the Babraham pig, and compare these to other genomes to gain insight into their evolution and impact on health.” 

Like humans, pigs have two slightly different copies of their genome – one from each parent. In individuals that are highly inbred, these copies are more identical. This similarity helps scientists piece them together because there are fewer variations to account for between the two copies.

Scientists hope the new genome will provide insight into viral pig diseases, such as African swine fever and influenza, and inform studies into zoonotic diseases. It is also hoped the genetic uniformity of Babraham pigs may also be used for studies of xenotransplantation.

Together with the genome assembly, researchers also generated 'transcriptome atlas' of the same breed, which records data to produce patterns of gene expression across various tissues within the organism. 

“We believe this new genome assembly and transcriptome atlas will further enhance the utility of the Babraham pig as a biomedical model,” said Dr Schwartz.

Image (C) Shutterstock.

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Veterinary Dispensary Manager Online Course relaunched

News Story 1
 The VMD has announced dates for its next Veterinary Dispensary Manager Online Course.

The event will relaunch on Thursday, 23 October 2025 from 9am to 5pm and will be delivered through an interactive online session.

It is open for anyone involved in a veterinary dispensary role, whether they are new to the topic or looking for a refresh. Attendees will receive vital insights into the safe and compliant handling of veterinary medicines.

The course can be booked online for £495. 

Click here for more...
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New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.