Domestic chicken diversity: Origin, distribution, and adaptation

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Food Security Studies

Background:

• Domestic chickens are the most numerous livestock globally, widely accepted across cultures.
• Their adaptability and breeding potential make them crucial for food security amid climate change and population growth.
• Recent genomic studies illuminate chicken evolutionary history.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the origin, dispersion, and adaptation of domestic chickens.
• To highlight the impact of human and natural selection on chicken diversity.
• To identify knowledge gaps for future research.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on chicken domestication and evolution.
• Analysis of genomic data to understand evolutionary history.
• Examination of selection pressures shaping chicken diversity.

Main Results:

• Chickens originated and dispersed globally, influenced by human activities and environmental adaptation.
• Both human and natural selection have played significant roles in creating current chicken genetic diversity.
• Genomic insights are crucial for understanding past evolutionary trajectories.

Conclusions:

• Understanding chicken origins and adaptation is key to leveraging their genetic resources for future food security.
• Further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps concerning selection processes and adaptation mechanisms.
• The domestic chicken represents a unique genetic resource for addressing global challenges.