GENETIC-STRUCTURE AND ORIGIN OF AN OLD RU SSIAN ORLOFF CHICKEN BREED

In this study, the origin, history of selection, external appearance, and genetic, morphological and productive properties of an old Russian chicken breed, Orloff, are discussed. The characterization of the bre ed is supplemented by experimental data of the authors on the genetic polymorphism of egg and blood proteins. On the basis of the distributi on of allelic frequencies of protein-coding genes and the prsence of d iscrete morphological traits, the relationship of the Orloff breed wit h other breeds and with Mediterranean and Asian breed groups is establ ished. The genetic uniqueness of the Orloff breed with regard to bioch emical gene markers in comparison with the other 27 breeds was demonst rated. Cladistic analysis revealed the kinship of the Orloff breed wit h the Gilyan, Old English Game and Malay breeds, which agrees well wit h historical evidence on the origin of the Orloff breed. Problems of c hicken gene geography and specifics of the traits analyzed are discuss ed.