During the course of her PhD studies, Lene Conley carried out research into the genes that contribute to giving pork its characteristic boar taint.

Boar taint is the unpleasant odour or taste that sometimes occurs when meat from entire male pigs is prepared by heating. Boar taint is mainly due to the accumulation of two substances in the meat – skatole and androstenone.

By comparing meat from pigs with a high level of boar taint with meat from pigs with a low level of boar taint, Lene Conley studied which genes are involved in the formation and breakdown of skatole and androstenone. The research results she achieved contribute to the understanding of the complex network of genes involved, and will be included in the long run in the hunt for genetic markers that can help in breeding to identify the pigs that are in the risk zone for developing boar taint. In this way, it will hopefully be possible to stop castrating piglets in the near future.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Research Centre Foulum, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

Time: Friday 25 May 2012 at 12.30
Place: Lecture Theatre, Research Centre Foulum, Blichers Allé, 8830 Tjele
Title of dissertation: Gene expression and genetic variation in relation to boar taint
Contact information: Lene Conley, lene@conley.dk, +45 4062 7965
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Merete Fredholm, Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Professor Johanna Vilkki, Biotechnology and Food Research, Agrifood Research Finland
Associate Professor Bo Thomsen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Research Professor Christian Bendixen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Jakob Hedegaard, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital
Language: The dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.