Genetic Diversity at Toll Like Receptor 7 (TLR7) Gene of Sri Lankan Indigenous Chicken and Ceylon Jungle Fowl (Gallus lafayetti)

Although the Sri Lankan indigenous chicken is providing a valuable protein source and genetic resource to the country, a systemic evaluation and proper characterization of indigenous chicken population remains at a zero level. Here we use experimental molecular tool to identify the variation of indigenous chicken at immune related gene Toll like receptor 7 (TLR7). A total of 24 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) and 35 haplotypes were identified within Sri Lankan Indigenous chicken with relative frequencies of 0.0208 to 0.0625. The genetic structure of indigenous chicken populations showed a relatively low genetic distance (overall average 0.698). Majority (about 80%) of the population were identified in one large cluster in phylogenetic analysis, confirming the fact that being in the family of Toll Like Receptors, TLR7 locus is a conserved region among the indigenous chicken population. However, the effect of SNPs in the protein coding region, gene expression and relation to disease resistance found in this study is being investigated.

Key words: Genetic diversity; Indigenous chicken; Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs); Toll like receptor 7 gene.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v22i4.3787

TAR 2011; 22(4): 367-373