Chickens

Name: Les poules
Brand: Éditions Quae
SKU: 9782759240388
Price: 25.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 978-2-7592-4038-8

Understanding their visible genetic diversity

by Michèle Tixier-Boichard (editorial coordination), Gérard Coquerelle (preface)

Collection: Savoir faire

march 2025

Book 160 x 240 format 168 pages In stock	25,00 €
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Summary

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.

Preface by Gérard Coquerelle

1. Chicken ancestors and domestication

Taxonomy

Domestication

Breed differentiation

2. Basic concepts

The cell, the carrier of genetic information

The chicken genome

Mendel's laws and molecular bases

Apparent deviations from Mendel's laws

How to identify the gene responsible for a phenotype?

3. Main genes affecting pigmentation

Preamble: summary of the physiological basis of pigmentation

Skin color

Plumage color

Main plumage patterns

Eye color

Eggshell color

4. Main genes affecting plumage morphology

Reminder of plumage development

Changes in feather distribution

Changes in feather growth

Changes in Feather structure

5. Main genes affecting the comb, skin and appendages

The comb

Genes affecting the uropygial gland

Genes affecting spurs

Genes affecting toe skin

6. Main genes affecting the skeleton or body size

Body size

Main genes affecting toes

Spine

Head

7. Metabolic defects determined by single genes

Epilepsy, EPI locus

Balance abnormality, LOCO locus

Fishy taint in brown eggs, FM03 gene

Gout

Diabetes insipidus, DI locus

Vitiligo

Lack of ovulation, RO locus

Conclusion

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3 Glossary

Locus index in alphabetical order of symbols

Bibliographical references

The authors

Press

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