Chickens

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