Les poules — Comprendre leur diversité génétique visible

Abstract

Plumage color, comb shape, individual size or eggshell color... As early as the beginning of the XXth century, scientists identified the single-gene determinism of some visible traits that define the different chicken breeds. In 2004, the sequencing of the chicken genome revolutionized the study of domestication and breed genetic diversity, making it possible to reconstruct their history and precisely determine the genes responsible for visible traits. Today, molecular diagnostic tests can also be used to help interpret phenotypes, particularly in the case of crossbred animals. Inspired by Gérard Coquerelle's book (Les poules. Diversité génétique visible, Inra, 2000), this book revisits the visible genetic diversity of hens, integrating the new knowledge provided by molecular genetics and addressing the mechanisms leading to the variations observed and to certain metabolic defects. It presents the fundamental principles of Mendelian genetics, uses pedagogical diagrams to explain interactions between genes themselves or with the environment, and describes over 30 genes used by breeders since the beginning of chicken domestication, well before knowing the genome. This book is aimed at amateur or industrial breeders, teachers at general or agricultural high schools and researchers interested in the comparative genetics of birds and mammals.