Integrated Genomic Approaches to Characterize and Mitigate Heat Stress in Poultry

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genomics
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Rising global populations and climate change necessitate increased food production, particularly in poultry.
• Poultry production in hot climates faces challenges due to heat stress, impacting productivity and welfare.
• Existing management strategies for heat stress can be complemented by genetic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent omics studies on heat stress in poultry.
• To identify key genes and pathways involved in poultry heat stress response.
• To discuss genomics-based strategies for enhancing poultry thermal tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of recent scientific literature on poultry heat stress.
• Integration of positional and functional candidate gene analyses.
• Examination of omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, etc.) in heat stress research.

Main Results:

• Identification of prominent biological pathways associated with the heat stress response in poultry.
• Highlighting candidate genes that play a significant role in thermal tolerance.
• Analysis of omics data reveals complex genetic underpinnings of heat stress.

Conclusions:

• Genomics approaches offer efficient strategies for improving poultry thermal tolerance.
• Preserving biodiversity is crucial for accessing beneficial genetic variations for climate resilience.
• Future challenges include integrating genomic selection for climate-resilient poultry production.