# Integrated mitogenome and Y chromosome analysis untangles the complex origin of African pigs

## TL;DR

The study reveals that African pigs have a complex genetic origin involving European and Asian lineages, with a rare wild boar haplogroup found in Tanzania.

## Contribution

The detection of a rare Asian wild boar haplogroup in Tanzania and the genetic link between western African and Iberian pigs is a novel finding.

## Key findings

- African pigs predominantly descend from European and East Asian lineages.
- A rare Asian wild boar haplogroup A1∗ was detected in Tanzania.
- Genetic link between western African and Iberian pigs dates to about 4.5 ka.

## Abstract

The genetic history of African indigenous pigs remains poorly documented due to scarce archaeological and genomic data. Here, we analyzed 473 mitogenomes and 202 Y chromosome sequences from indigenous pigs in Africa, alongside 901 published mitogenomes and 715 Y chromosome sequences from Eurasian pigs and wild boars. Our results reveal that African pigs predominantly descend from European (haplogroup E, 44.8%) and East Asian (haplogroup D, 53.3%) lineages. Interestingly, there was a novel detection of Asian wild boar haplogroup A∗ (1.9%) in Tanzania. This pattern is congruent with that of Y chromosome analysis. Further maternal analyses confirm a genetic link between western African and Iberian pigs dating to about 4.5 ka, and dispersal into eastern Africa coinciding with the Bantu expansion around 2 ka. Our findings demonstrate complex human-mediated dispersal routes, highlighting the role of Bantu societies in shaping the genetic architecture of African indigenous pigs.

•African indigenous pigs show signatures of both European and Asian pigs•Iberian-type pigs in Africa show a spatial correlation with the Bantu dispersal•Rare mitochondrial DNA sub-haplogroup A1∗ is identified in pigs from Tanzania

African indigenous pigs show signatures of both European and Asian pigs

Iberian-type pigs in Africa show a spatial correlation with the Bantu dispersal

Rare mitochondrial DNA sub-haplogroup A1∗ is identified in pigs from Tanzania

Genomics; evolutionary ecology; evolutionary history