Comprehensive Genetic Analysis with Mitochondrial DNA Data Reveals the Population Evolution Relationship Between Chinese Gamecocks and Their Neighboring Native Chicken Breeds

摘要

With the aim of testing whether there are possible genetic communications between Chinese gamecocks and their neighboring native chicken breeds, this study comprehensively analyzed an integrative mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data of 328 chicken (69 gamecocks belonging to 5 breeds and 259 domesticated chicken belonging to 18 breeds). Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) and phylogeny demonstrated Chinese gamecocks formed monophyletic groups that had been differentiated significantly with other native chicken breeds, though some of the clusters appeared to be an admixture of gamecocks and domesticated chicken. All the analysis demonstrated significant differentiation within chicken populations sampled and presented a gene flow mode of geographical distribution (p<0.05, AMOVA). In this study, we found most of the chicken breeds have been an admixture with possible gene flow among them, except for three gamecock breeds, Chahua and Gushi chicken, whose races are relatively pure. Our study provided important clues for the research and understanding of the evolutionary and genetics relationship among Chinese native chicken breeds.