DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqb1
title: Data from: Unravelling the difference in craniofacial morphology of Yucatan miniature and standard pigs during postnatal ontogeny

description: This study characterized postnatal skull growth and development, and
 morphological variations in Yucatan and standard (domestic) pigs, with a
 focus on the role of joint maturation in resulting craniofacial
 dysmorphology. Using imaging processing, craniometric measurement and
 geometric morphometric approaches, it reveals that while both breeds share
 a similar skull morphology at birth and exhibit allometric growth
 patterns, Yucatans develop a shorter midface and more compact
 neurocranium. Notably, Yucatans show delayed suture fusion compared to
 standard pigs, suggesting differences in joint maturation influence
 craniofacial form. These findings emphasizing the interactions with organ
 development, cavity expansion, and joint maturation during postnatal
 ontogeny, offering insights into mechanisms driving craniofacial
 diversification in pig models. This dataset includes quantitative cranial
 measurement data from 40 pig specimens (Yucatan: n = 20, ages 0–12 months;
 standard: n = 20, ages 0–8 months), covering: (1) 24 linear measurements
 of facial, calvarial and mandibular dimensions; (2) 3 angular measurements
 of cranial vault, skull base and mandible; (3) Volumetric measurements
 capturing the size changes of intracranial, orbital and nasal cavities;
 (4) Calvarial thickness across the cranial vault; (5) Cranial joint gap
 width at 30 anatomical locations across the cranial sutures and
 synchondroses. All raw and preprocessed data were saved in a rda file, and
 a fully annotated R script is provided as part of this dataset. This
 script enables reproduction of morphometric and statistical analyses
 presented in the study, which include: (1) Principal component analysis
 (PCA) to explore morphological variations in skull form and shape; (2)
 Pearson's correlation test to evaluate relations between the use of
 different landmark configurations; (3) Multivariate regressions to
 investigate ontogenetic allometry; (4) Partial least squares (PLS)
 analysis to assess covariation patterns either between anatomical
 substructures or between breeds
description: ### 1. Title of the Study **Unravelling the Difference in Craniofacial
 Morphology of Yucatan Miniature and Standard Pigs During Postnatal
 Ontogeny** --- ### 2. Short Summary of the Study This study characterized
 postnatal skull growth and development, and morphological variations in
 Yucatan and standard (domestic) pigs, with a focus on the role of joint
 maturation in resulting craniofacial dysmorphology. Using imaging
 processing, craniometric measurement and geometric morphometric
 approaches, it reveals that while both breeds share a similar skull
 morphology at birth and exhibit allometric growth patterns, Yucatans
 develop a shorter midface and more compact neurocranium. Notably, Yucatans
 show delayed suture fusion compared to standard pigs, suggesting
 differences in joint maturation influence craniofacial form. These
 findings emphasizing the interactions with organ development, cavity
 expansion, and joint maturation during postnatal ontogeny, offering
 insights into mechanisms driving craniofacial diversification in pig
 models. --- ### 3. Code and Package Versions An R script is included to
 reproduce all morphometric and statistical analyses. The session info
 (inc. package versions) is saved within the R script for reproducibility.
 * The script was performed using R version 4.4.3 in RStudio 2025.05.0+496.
 * The script has been tested and is compatible with recent versions of R
 and RStudio. --- ### 4. Repository Contents Overview ``` Data files/ │
 ├──pigdataV3.rda # Raw data and precomputed data objects
 ├──Script_Pig_Craniofacial_Morphology_V1.R # R script for statistical
 analyses and plots ├──Data_1_Linear_measurements.csv # Unprocessed linear
 measurement data ├──Data_2_Angular_measurements.csv # Unprocessed angular
 measurement data ├──Data_3_Volumetric_measurements.csv # Unprocessed
 volumetric measurement data ├──Data_4_Calvarial_thickness.csv #
 Unprocessed calvarial bone thickness data
 ├──Data_5_Cranial_joint_gap_width.csv # Unprocessed cranial joint gap
 width data └──README.md # This file ``` --- ### 5. User Instructions To
 reproduce the analyses: 1. Open `Script_Pig Craniofacial Morphology
 Study_V1.R` in R (RStudio recommended). 2. Ensure all packages are
 installed at the first run. 3. Load the data with: ```r
 load("pigdataV3.rda") ``` 4. Follow the script sections, which
 are organized by: * Principal component analysis (PCA) to explore
 morphological variations in skull form and shape * Pearson's
 correlation test to evaluate relations between the use of different
 landmark configurations * Multivariate regressions to investigate
 ontogenetic allometry * Partial least squares (PLS) analysis to assess
 covariation patterns either between anatomical substructures or between
 breeds 5. Optional: Skip data processing and use precomputed results
 directly from `pigdataV3.rda`. All configuration and workflow steps are
 clearly annotated in the script. --- ### 6. Data File Variable
 Descriptions All variable names and their descriptions are included within
 the RDA object and accessible after loading `pigdataV3.rda`. Variables
 descriptions are commented in the .R script. Each variable is associated
 with specimen metadata (e.g., breed, age group, weight). --- ### 7.
 Protocols and Methods No external methods repository is associated with
 this study at present. All methodological details are included in the
 manuscript, electronic supplementary material, and annotated within the R
 script. --- ### 8. Publication and Contact This repository is part of a
 research article: Liang et al. (2025) Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
 Biological Sciences, doi:10.1098/rspb.2025.1646. Pleases note that: 1. Any
 issues with reproducing the analyses using this script, please contact Dr
 Ce Liang, University College London,
 [ce.liang.18@ucl.ac.uk](mailto:ce.liang.18@ucl.ac.uk),
 [ce.liang.biomech@gmail.com](mailto:ce.liang.biomech@gmail.com) 2. Any
 requests for additional information/resources or data should be directed
 to and will be fulfilled by the lead contact, Prof Mehran Moazen,
 University College London, [m.moazen@ucl.ac.uk](mailto:m.moazen@ucl.ac.uk)