Genome-wide scans for selection signatures in indigenous chickens reveal candidate genes associated with local adaptation

Bibliographic Details
Title: Genome-wide scans for selection signatures in indigenous chickens reveal candidate genes associated with local adaptation
Authors: X.F. Xie, Z.Y. Wang, Z.Q. Zhong, D.Y. Pan, G.Y. Hou, Q. Xiao
Source: Animal, Vol 18, Iss 5, Pp 101151- (2024)
Publisher Information: Elsevier, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Animal culture
Subject Terms: Chinese indigenous chickens, Genetic structure, Local adaptation, Selection signatures, Single nucleotide polymorphisms, Animal culture, SF1-1100
More Details: Population growth and climate change pose challenges to the sustainability of poultry farming. The emphasis on high-yield traits in commercialized breeds has led to a decline in their adaptability. Chicken varieties adapted to the local environment, possessing traits that facilitate adaptation to climate change, such as disease resistance and tolerance to extreme weather conditions, can improve hybridization outcomes. In this study, we conducted an analysis of the population structure and genetic diversity of 110 chickens representing indigenous breeds from southern China and two different commercial breeds. Further, we performed comparative population genomics, utilizing nucleotide diversity and fixation statistics, to characterize genomic features of natural selection and to identify unique genetic traits and potential selection markers developed by indigenous breeds after adapting to the local environment. Results based on genetic diversity and population structure analyses showed that indigenous varieties exhibited high levels of genetic diversity. Commercial breeds that have been indigenously bred demonstrated higher levels of genetic diversity than those that have not, and breeds with different selection practices displayed significant differences in genetic structure. Additionally, we further searched for potential genomic regions in native chicken ecotypes, uncovering several candidate genes related to ecological adaptations affecting local breeds, such as IKBKB, S1PR1, TSHR, IL1RAPL1 and AMY2A, which are involved in disease resistance, heat tolerance, immune regulation and behavioral traits. This work provides important insights into the genomic characterization of ecotypes of native chicken in southern China. The identification of candidate genes associated with traits such as disease resistance, heat tolerance, immunomodulation, and behavioral traits is a significant outcome. These candidate genes may contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the adaptation of the southern native chicken to the local environment. It is recommended that these genes be integrated into chicken breeding programs to enhance sustainable agriculture and promote effective conservation and utilization strategies.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1751-7311
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112400082X; https://doaj.org/toc/1751-7311
DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101151
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8bcb92710d9c4cc1a3978a757dd84506
Accession Number: edsdoj.8bcb92710d9c4cc1a3978a757dd84506
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:17517311
DOI:10.1016/j.animal.2024.101151
Published in:Animal
Language:English