News: To Russia with love; The Spectre of a return trip

Developing Kent–Russia connections in April 2015 CISoR's Dr Michael Romanov and our collaborator Dr Denis Larkin, of the Royal Veterinary College, London, visited the All-Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding in Pushkin and St Petersburg State University. In October 2015, Mike and Denis (both Russians by birth) were re-invited for an extension seminar course followed by an international scientific meeting at the All-Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding in Pushkin

Microchromosome organization in birds

Interchromosomal rearrangements involving microchromosomes are rare events in birds. To date, they have been found mostly in Neognathae and Neoaves (e.g., Psittaciformes, Falconiformes, and Cuculiformes), although only a few orders have been analyzed. Hence, cytogenomic studies focusing on microchromosomes in species belonging to different bird orders are essential to shed more light on the avian chromosome and karyotype evolution. Relevant hypothetical Neognathae, Neoaves and other ancestral karyotypes can be reconstructed to trace these rearrangements. In a more recent study, a comparative chromosome mapping for chicken microchromosomes 10 to 28 was performed using interspecies BAC-based FISH hybridization in five species, representing four Neoaves orders (Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes, and Trogoniformes). These results suggest that the ancestral microchromosomal syntenies are conserved in Pteroglossus inscriptus (Piciformes), Ramphastos tucanus tucanus (Piciformes), and Trogon surrucura surrucura (Trogoniformes). On the other hand, chromosome reorganization in Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Suliformes) and Hydropsalis torquata (Caprimulgiformes) included fusions involving both macro- and microchromosomes. Fissions in macrochromosomes were observed in P. brasilianus and H. torquata. No interchromosomal rearrangement involving microchromosomes were found to be shared between avian orders where rearrangements were detected. These findings suggest that convergent evolution involving microchromosomal change is a rare event in birds and may be appropriate in cytotaxonomic inferences in orders where these rearrangements occurred

British Sheep Breed Diversity

The UK can be proud of the fact that numerous native breeds of sheep have been developed here that possess unique phenotypic features and excellent productivity and are utilized throughout the world. Their remarkable popularity and further sustainable breeding on grass pastures of British Isles and elsewhere can benefit from genomic applications. At present, there is a rich arsenal of genetic and genomic resources, tools and applications used for livestock assessment, breeding and production including, first of all, genetic profiling of diverse breeds, and search for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes in farm animals. These genomic advances facilitate breed improvement and understanding of the genetic processes in the course of domestication and breed evolution

William Plant – Obituary

William John Plant of Maitland, NSW - Australia, died on 20 October, 1996. This remarkable poultry fancier, amateur researcher and historian was born on 3 May, 1921. Three years in high school were followed by work in engineering and three years on a technical college course. From 1939, interrupted by army service during World War II, he operated as amateur radio station. In 1965, in conjunction with his son David, he started to breed Pekin Bantams and they became members of the NSW Pekin Bantam Club. It was from this time that an interest in fancy fowl, and the domestic fowl generally, took on a progressively more important role in William's life. As breeders of Black Pekin Bantams, Bill and David Plant became Club Grand Champions on many occasions. William Plant served as Club Secretary and Newsletter editor (since 1974). This led ultimately to his co-editing The Australian Pekin Bantam (1993). The intriguing combination of interests in Pekin Bantams and short-wave radio provided the basis for his investigations and research into the origins and history not only of this variety, but into that of other varieties and the domestic fowl and poultry generally. While he wrote many articles for the poultry press on the history and development of varieties of domestic fowl and other poultry species in Australia, his increasing passion became the origin and evolution of the domestic fowl..

Некоторые экологические особенности инкубации куриных яиц [Some ecological peculiarities of incubation of chicken eggs]

Нарушин В.Г.; Романов М.Н. Выводы: Параметры скорлупы куриных яиц являются достаточно информативными показателями при оценке их инкубационных свойств. Очевидно, в первую очередь это обусловлено физическими характеристиками естественной преграды на пути микроорганизмов, которой является скорлупа. Эффект тонкой скорлупы отрицательно влиял на результаты инкубации, так же, как и слишком большая поверхность скорлупы по отношению к величине яйца, что связано с относительно большим количеством пор. Предложенная методика, основанная на анализе расположения измеряемых параметров в исследуемой статистической выборке, позволяет оценить инкубационные свойства куриных яиц до закладки в инкубатор. Использование метода предынкубационного отбора яиц экономически целесообразно. В рамках проведенных исследований количество невыведенных яиц можно сократить почти вдвое при их своевременной оценке и выбраковке

Gallus GBrowse: a unified genomic database for the chicken

Gallus GBrowse (http://birdbase.net/cgi-bin/gbrowse/gallus/) provides online access to genomic and other information about the chicken, Gallus gallus. The information provided by this resource includes predicted genes and Gene Ontology (GO) terms, links to Gallus In Situ Hybridization Analysis (GEISHA), Unigene and Reactome, the genomic positions of chicken genetic markers, SNPs and microarray probes, and mappings from turkey, condor and zebra finch DNA and EST sequences to the chicken genome. We also provide a BLAT server (http://birdbase.net/cgi-bin/webBlat) for matching user-provided sequences to the chicken genome. These tools make the Gallus GBrowse server a valuable resource for researchers seeking genomic information regarding the chicken and other avian species

A Tribute to Dr. Elio Corti, August 23, 1942–September 9, 2017

This year we mark the 80th anniversary of the renowned and internationally recognized Italian poultry writer, expert, fancier and breeder Dr. Elio Corti (Figure 1) and the 5th year since he passed away

[Ways to improve the productivity of chickens using a feed additives based on shungite as an example] Пути повышения продуктивных показателей кур (на примере использования кормовой добавки на основе шунгита)

To increase the efficiency of poultry production, new technologies for keeping and feeding are being developed. At the same time, it is urgent to search for new types of feed and feed additives that stimulate the functional state of young animals and adults. The experiment evaluated efficacy of the Sirtila® and Mustala® mineral additives based on shungite and neutralizing mycotoxins in feeding layers. The potential of the feed additives to maintain and increase productivity, improve feed conversion, in the absence of a negative effect on metabolism, has been shown. Для увеличения эффективности птицеводства разрабатываются новые технологии содержания и кормления. При этом актуальным является поиск новых видов кормов и кормовых добавок, стимулирующих функциональное состояние молодняка и взрослого поголовья. В опыте оценивалась эффективность минеральных добавок «Сиртила®» и «Мустала®» на основе шунгита в качестве нейтрализаторов микотоксинов в кормлении яичных кур. Показан потенциал кормовых добавок к поддержанию и повышению продуктивности, улучшению конверсии корма, при отсутствии отрицательного влияния на метаболизм

Integrative comparative analysis of avian chromosome evolution by in-silico mapping of the gene ontology of homologous synteny blocks and evolutionary breakpoint regions

Avian chromosomes undergo more intra- than interchromosomal rearrangements, which either induce or are associated with genome variations among birds. Evolving from a common ancestor with a karyotype not dissimilar from modern chicken, two evolutionary elements characterize evolutionary change: homologous synteny blocks (HSBs) constitute common conserved parts at the sequence level, while evolutionary breakpoint regions (EBRs) occur between HSBs, defining the points where rearrangement occurred. Understanding the link between the structural organization and functionality of HSBs and EBRs provides insight into the mechanistic basis of chromosomal change. Previously, we identified gene ontology (GO) terms associated with both; however, here we revisit our analyses in light of newly developed bioinformatic algorithms and the chicken genome assembly galGal6. We aligned genomes available for six birds and one lizard species, identifying 630 HSBs and 19 EBRs. We demonstrate that HSBs hold vast functionality expressed by GO terms that have been largely conserved through evolution. Particularly, we found that genes within microchromosomal HSBs had specific functionalities relevant to neurons, RNA, cellular transport and embryonic development, and other associations. Our findings suggest that microchromosomes may have conserved throughout evolution due to the specificity of GO terms within their HSBs. The detected EBRs included those found in the genome of the anole lizard, meaning they were shared by all saurian descendants, with others being unique to avian lineages. Our estimate of gene richness in HSBs supported the fact that microchromosomes contain twice as many genes as macrochromosomes

Polymerase chain reaction amplified markers for bird sexing

Female birds are heterogametic (Z/W), while males are homogametic (Z/Z). PCR assays are often useful in sexing avian species, especially at hatch or in ovo. Two previously described assays are based on differences between the Z and W copy of the chicken chromodomain-helicase DNA-binding protein gene (CHD1Z and CHD1W). Applicability of these assays were tested in five other galliforms: red junglefowl, turkey, peafowl, bobwhite quail and common quail, and one waterfowl, mallard. Using primers described by Fridolfsson and Ellegren (1999), males of all galliform species studied displayed one 450-bp, Z-specific fragment, whereas females showed both CHD1Z (450-bp) and CHD1W (600-bp) fragments. Both mallard sexes yielded a single product of 600 bp. Using primers designed by Kahn and Quinn (1999), three species, red junglefowl, turkey and peafowl, displayed one Z-specific fragment (240 bp) in males and two fragments (240 and 265 bp) in females. Only a single fragment was obtained, irrespective of sex, in bobwhite quail (250 bp), common quail (275 bp) and mallard (240 bp). By screening a chicken BAC library with a CHD1W genomic fragment, two overlapping BAC inserts were obtained that, by PCR analysis, appear to contain the chicken CHD1Z gene. To date, we have been unable to identify a CHD1W-containing BAC in our library. Additional BAC analysis is underway