Gene constitution of indigenous chickens in Bangladesh.

Abstract

Morphological characteristics, blood groups and blood protein polymorphisms of indigenous chickens in Bangladesh were investigated. Gene frequencies were analyzed at 29 loci controlling comb shape (the P, R and Cr loci), plumage color (the B, E, I and S loci), shank color (the Id locus), blood groups (the Ea-A, Ea-B, Ea-D and Ea-E loci) and blood proteins (the Amy-1 and -3, Akp and Akp-2, Es-1, Alb, Tf, Pas, Hb-1 and -2, LDH, 6-PGD, PGM, PHI, To, MDH and Es-D loci). In addition, phenotypic frequency of earlobe color was also examined. Among these 29 loci, 8 blood protein loci were monomorphic. Gene frequencies were compared among the local populations in Bangladesh. The frequencies of the E and I alleles for plumage color and of the Amy-1A and Hb-1A alleles for blood proteins showed a geographical cline. These frequencies were a little higher in the populations of the Chittagong Division than in those of the Dhaka Division. Although gene frequencies at other loci also varied considerably among the local populations, no geographical cline was found. Genetic distances between each pair of the local populations were small, and the coefficient of gene differentiation among them, GST, was only .058. These results suggest that the indigenous chickens (nondescript deshi type) of Bangladesh may be regarded as one breed or population.