AUTHOR=Gu Lihong , Wu Fanghu , Zheng Xinli , Zhang Xiaohui , Chen Yanmin , Lu Lizhi , Liu Xiangxiang , Mo Shuhui , Chao Zhe , He Zhongchun , Shang Yuanyuan , Wei Dong , Wei Sheng , Chen Youyi , Xu Tieshan TITLE=Molecular genetic identification of Wuzhishan ant chicken, a newly discovered resource in China JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science VOLUME=11 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1319854 DOI=10.3389/fvets.2024.1319854 ISSN=2297-1769 ABSTRACT=Introduction

The Wuzhishan ant (MY) chicken exhibits significant differences from other chicken breeds. However, the molecular genetic relationship between the MY breed and other chicken breeds has not been assessed.

Methods

Whole-genome resequencing was used to compare genetic diversity, nucleotide diversity, the fixation index, the linkage disequilibrium coefficient, and phylogenetic tree relationships between the MY breed and the Wenchang (WC), Danzhou (DZ), Bawangling (BW), and Longsheng Feng (LF) breeds.

Results

A total of 21,586,378 singlenucleotide polymorphisms and 4,253,341 insertions/deletions were screened out among the five breeds. The MY breed had the second highest genomic genetic diversity and nucleotide diversity and the lowest LD coefficient among the five breeds. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree analysis showed that individual birds of each breed clustered together with those of their respective breeds.

Discussion

Our data indicated that the MY breed is distinct from the other breeds and can be considered a new genetic resource.