Molecular genetics of avian proteins—X. Egg white protein polymorphism of indigenous Indian chickens

Abstract

1.1. Three variants of G8 ovoglobulin (J, A and B) and all three known variants of transferrin (A, B and C) were found in small samples of Indian village fowl.2.2. This confirms an Asiatic origin for the G3B and TfC genes. The absence of the ovalbumin B variant in these fowl agrees with previous suggestions that this variant is of European origin.3.3. Gallus sonnerati egg white proteins were not found in any of the samples, supporting the view that Gallus gallus is the sole or main ancestor of the domestic fowl.4.4. The presence of frequent polymorphism in the egg white proteins of Indian fowl, the same polymorphism retained in many occidental commercial breeds, is indicative that these protein polymorphisms must often be of selective advantage.