Method for breeding and genotyping chickens and probes therefor

摘要

Disease resistance in domesticated fowl, and in particular, chickens, has been associated with certain alleles of the Rfp-Y and B systems of major histocompatibility genes in the birds. This invention provides a method of genotyping chickens which is useful for different breeds of chickens raised for meat and eggs. Methods for selecting disease-resistant chickens and for breeding disease-resistant chickens are also provided. The invention provides oligonucleotide probes for use in the methods. The haplotyping method can be used to select for breeding chickens having a reduced incidence and/or severity of disease, for example, Marek's disease and greater vigor and fecundity.