Estimation of genetic distances among various chicken breeds using RAPD markers

Abstract

RAPD technique was utilized to evaluate genetic similarities, dissimilarities and genetic distances among various breeds ofchicken. Chicken breeds Rhode Island Red (RIR), New Hampshire (NH) and White Leghorn (WLH) were used. Primers (10) having arbitrary sequences were used, and 5 of these 10 random primers (50%) generated reproducible polymorphism pattern between 3 chicken breeds while other 4 primers (50%) produced monomorphic RAPD patterns. The RAPD analysis data from 5 primers were utilized in estimating within breed genetic similarity as band sharing proportion (WS) and band frequency (WF), which ranged from 0.816 to 1.224 (WS) and from 0.50 to 0.55 (WF). The genetic similarities estimated from band sharing (BS) and band frequency (BF) among the 3 chicken breeds ranged from 0.863 to 0.961 (BS) and 0.512 to 0.542 (BF). The WLH exhibited higher genetic similarity (ws=1.224 and WF=O.55) in comparison to the RIR (Ws=O.816 and WF=O.518) and NH (Ws=1.011 and WF=O.501). RIR showed maximum genetic similarity with the WLH as compared to NH with either measure of genetic similarity (Bs=0.961, BF=O.542). The maximum genetic distance was observed between RIR and NH from either measure.