Genetic characterization of Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus gallus) and commercial chicken lines (Gallus gallus domesticus) using molecular markers

Molecular markers such as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA fingerprinting (DFP) have so far proved to be useful in establishing genetic relationship among the livestock populations including poultry. The present study was conducted to evaluate the genetic characterization and relationships of Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus gallus) and commercial chicken lines (Gallus gallus domesticus) using PCR-RFLP Technique. Samples belonging to one subspecies of Red Junglefowl and three commercial lines, White broiler (White domesticated fowl; Red broiler (Red domesticated fowl), Sasso broiler (Sasso domesticated fowl), were studied. The electrophoresis analysis of PCR amplification of studied chickens shows DNA bands at 412 bp., 465 bp., 546 bp., 650 bp. and 666 bp. as dominant PCR products for primers P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 respectively. The results of this study revealed that there is a wide intraspecific COI (Cytochrom Oxidas I), SEMA3E (Semaphorin-3E) and NR2E1 (TLX) (Nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group E member 1) variability among these chickens using restriction enzymes NlaIII where this enzyme produced different restriction fragments in white, Red and Sasso broilers and did not show any fragments in Red Junglefowl except for primer P4. It was confirmed through the present study that the RFLP is a valuable tool to evaluate genetic variation of the studied chickens.