Tastier sausages could result from a first draft of the domestic pig's genetic blueprint produced by scientists yesterday.

The genetic codebook, or genome sequence, is 98% complete. It is expected to improve breeding practices, help scientists studying human diseases in pigs, and pinpoint genes that might improve pork production and meat quality.

Researchers based their analysis on DNA from a red-haired Duroc pig living on a farm at the University of Illinois in the US.

The Duroc is one of five major breeds used in pork production worldwide, and one of about 200 varieties of domesticated pig.

An international team of scientists, including British experts worked together on the sequencing project, which cost around £15m.

Professor Alan Archibald, from the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, one of the British scientists involved, said: “This is a great day for the pig research community.

“When we launched the international pig gene mapping project nearly 20 years ago, few if any of us thought a pig genome sequence attainable or affordable.”

Belfast Telegraph