Issue |
Genet. Sel. Evol.
Volume 35, Number 4, July-August 2003
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Page(s) | 403 - 423 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/gse:2003031 |
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2003031
Evolutionary relationships of Red Jungle Fowl and chicken breeds
Irina G. Moiseyevaa, Michael N. Romanovb, Andrey A. Nikiforova, Antonina A. Sevastyanovac and Serafima K. Semyenovada N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics (RAS), Moscow 119991, Russia
b Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 2209 Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
c All-Russian Poultry Research and Technological Institute (RAAS), Sergiev Posad, Moscow Region 141300, Russia
d Institute of Gene Biology (RAS), Moscow 119334, Russia
(Received 2 January 2002; accepted 20 December 2002)
Abstract
Published results were reassessed and original data are provided
regarding the origin and relatedness of four postulated chicken breed
lineages, egg-type, game, meat-type and Bantam, to each other and to
the basic ancestral species of jungle fowls, Gallus gallus. A
system approach was employed concerning the planning of the
experiments. One element of the system approach is the choice of the
breeds to be compared with G. gallus. These breeds were
supposed to represent major evolutionary branches of chickens. Four
experiments on genetic relationships were conducted using different
estimation criteria including morphological discrete characters, body
measurements, biochemical markers, and the activity of serum
esterase-1. The greatest similarity was found between
G. gallus and the egg-type breeds of Mediterranean roots
and/or true Bantams. This fact might testify that the indicated
chicken groups occupied earlier stages in the evolution from the wild
progenitor to the present biodiversity of chickens in the world.
Key words: Red Jungle Fowl / chicken breeds / evolution / genetic relationship / biodiversity
Correspondence and reprints: Michael N. Romanov
e-mail: romanoff@pilot.msu.edu
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2003