AN international team of scientists, including researchers at Durham University, have revealed the genetic code of pigs for the first time.

The breakthrough could provide new insights into their domestication and the movements of early humans.

Researchers compared the genome or genetic make-up of domestic pigs with those of wild boars - from which domestic pigs are descended.

Their study found significant genetic differences between wild boar from Asia and Europe, which split from a common ancestor around a million years ago.

These differences are also reflected in the genes of current day Western and Chinese breeds of domestic pigs, confirming that pigs were independently domesticated in western Eurasia and East Asia.

The study, published in the journal Nature, was led by scientists at The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wageningen University and the University of Illinois.

Durham University was involved in the interpretation of the genomic analyses with respect to domestic pigs.

Dr Greger Larson, in the department of archaeology, at Durham University, said:"Ultimately, this amazing tool will give us greater insight into the movements of early humans, showing where they came from and where they settled throughout history."

The wider research identified about 21,000 genes in the pig genome and compared these genes to their counterparts in humans, mice, dogs, horses and cows.. Scientists also believe the discovery has the potential to shed light on human diseases.

The analysis showed that of all mammals whose genetic make-up has been decoded, pigs have the most genes linked to smell.

Scientists say that this could explain the pig's ability to hunt for truffles.

The study involved more than 40 institutions in 12 countries.