GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG COMMERCIAL CHICKEN POPULATIONS ESTIMATED FROMDNA FINGERPRINTS

Blood samples were obtained from parental pure lines representing a la rge majority of commercial meat-type (broiler) and white egg layer lin es presently available in the USA. From blood mixes of each line, DNA was extracted and a DNA fingerprint pattern characteristic of that lin e was produced. Additionally, DNA fingerprints representing wild jungl e fowl and two randombred control populations were produced. Three ana lyses were conducted: 1) among broiler sire lines, jungle fowl, and on e control line; 2) among broiler dam lines, jungle fowl, and one contr ol line; and 3) among parental lines of white egg layers, jungle fowl, and the second control line. Bandsharing levels were calculated, prov iding an estimate of genetic diversity among lines. Conclusions were t hat, at present, broiler sire lines, broiler dam lines, and parental l ines of white egg layers that make up the majority of commercial breed ing populations available in the USA contain a considerable reservoir of genetic diversity.