Using RAPD markers for assessment of genetic diversity in chickens [Определение генетического разнообразия в популяциях кур пяти пород с помощью маркеров случайно амплифицированной полиморфной ДНК. (Украина. ФРГ)]

Using RAPD markers, a preliminary genome screening of five chicken breeds kept in Ukraine and Germany was carried out. The breed diversity estimates, similarity parameters and genetic distances were found. Genetic diversity comparison demonstrated that four Ukrainian populations had a middle level of within-breed variation evaluated by mean morph number and were more polymorphic than a German population with a lower variation. The Neighbor-Joining dendrograms of breed differentiation were reconstructed to estimate phylogenetic relationships reflecting breed relatedness. The results of the survey showed that, despite certain application and accuracy limitations, RAPD markers, as simple molecular tools, still enable quite fast and with minimum costs to initially characterise within and between breed genetic variation in chickens.