EVALUATION OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES FOR SIMPLE TANDEM REPEATS (STR) TO PRODUCE INFORMATIVE DNA FINGERPRINTS OF THE CHICKEN

1. DNA fingerprints of chickens from 2 commercial lines were used to i dentify oligonucleotide probes providing informative DNA fingerprints. 2. The oligonucleotides [CA](8), [CAC](5), [GGAT](4) and [GACA](4), p roducing a high number of bands of sufficient intensity and regular di stribution, were chosen for further analysis out of 10 tested. 3. Anal yses of banding patterns within families revealed Mendelian inheritanc e of the fragments detected. The DNA fingerprints obtained with the 4 chosen oligonucleotide probes showed about 40 scorable bands in total. 4. Comparison of banding patterns within and between the chicken line s for all 4 oligonucleotide probes revealed levels of bandsharing whic h did not differ significantly. The number of loci detected by these p robes ranged from 25 to 30 each. 5. The probes [CA](8), [CAC](5), [GGA T](4) and [GACA](4) can be used to produce informative DNA fingerprint s of chicken. These probes provide estimates of the genetic similarity /variability of individuals or of populations and provide a valid meas ure of the actual degree of genetic similarity/varibility.