GENETIC DIVERSITY OF COMMERCIAL TURKEY PRIMARY BREEDING LINES AS ESTIMATED BY DNA-FINGERPRINTING

The genetic diversity of primary breeding sire and dam Lines from the three largest turkey breeders was estimated by band sharing of DNA fin gerprints and by genetic distance estimated from band sharing. For com parison, experimental Lines selected for increased egg production (E L ine) or increased 16-wk body weight (F Line) were also included in the analysis. Eighteen individual DNA samples per line were digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme and hybridized with Jeffreys' 33.6 probe. T he DNA fingerprints were analyzed with computer programs designed to m easure band sharing. Within commercial lines, band sharing ranged from 0.370 to 0.508 and was greater in commercial sire lines (average = 0. 475) than in commercial dam lines (average = 0.393), indicating that a ccumulated inbreeding was greater in the sire lines. Band sharing in t he F and E lines was 0.479 and 0.522, respectively. The average band s haring among lines was higher for primary breeding sire lines (average = 0.267) than for primary breeding dam Lines (0.207), suggesting more genetic diversity in the dam lines. Genetic distance estimated from b and sharing was greater among commercial dam lines than commercial sir e lines. Based on band sharing between lines and genetic distance esti mates, it appears that the experimental E and F Lines contain genetic variation not found in the commercial lines. The results of the presen t study, along with data published in the literature, suggest that com mercial primary breeding turkey lines are as diverse, if not more dive rse, than similar commercial chicken lines.