Domestic chicken diversity: Origin, distribution, and adaptation

Lawal, Raman Akinyanju; Hanotte, Olivier

Abstract

Chicken is the most numerous among the domesticated livestock species. Across cultures, religions, and societies, chicken is widely accepted with little or no taboo compared to other domestic animals. Its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and demonstrated potential for breeding improvement provide a unique genetic resource for addressing the challenges of food security in a world impacted by climatic change and human population growth. Recent studies, shedding new knowledge on the chicken genomes, have helped reconstruct its past evolutionary history. Here, we review the literature concerning the origin, dispersion, and adaptation of domestic chicken. We highlight the role of human and natural selection in shaping the diversity of the species and provide a few examples of knowledge gaps that may be the focus of future research.

Citation

Lawal, R. A., & Hanotte, O. (2021). Domestic chicken diversity: Origin, distribution, and adaptation. Animal Genetics, 52(4), 385-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13091

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 7, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Deposit Date: May 27, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Journal: Animal Genetics
• Print ISSN: 0268-9146
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2052
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 385-394
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13091
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5574529
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/age.13091