Using information from the human genome two new candidate genes for growth and composition traits were studied. The porcine high mobility group isoforms protein [HMGI(Y) and HMGIC] genes were chosen based on their presumed role in fat cell growth and differentiation. The HMGI(Y) gene was assigned to pig chromosome 7 by both linkage and physical mapping methods. This assignment agrees with other comparative mapping studies as the human HMGI(Y) gene maps to human chromosome 6p21, which is known to share a homology with pig chromosome 7. Interestingly, the pig HMGIC gene was assigned to the pig chromosome 1 by both methods. The localization of these candidate genes in the pig genome could improve the power of analyses for quantitative traits associated with growth and meat quality traits.