Background Detecting the genetic and physiological variations in two Japanese quail strains could be used to suggest a new avian model for future breeding studies. Consequently, two estimations were performed on two Japanese quail strains: gray quail strain (GJQS) and white jumbo quail strain (WJQS). The first estimation was conducted on carcass characteristics, breast muscles, breast concentration of collagen type I, and body measurements. In contrast, blood samples were collected for the second estimation for genomic DNA extraction and genetic analysis. Results A total of 62 alleles out of 97 specific alleles (63.92%) were detected overall loci (14 microsatellite loci) for the two strains. A total of 27 specific alleles of WJQS were observed, and 35 were obtained for GJQS. The percentage of similarity was 48.09% ranged from 4.35 with UBC001 to 100% with GUJ0051. WJQS had greater body weights and a higher value of pectoral muscle and supracoracoideus muscle than GJQS. The breast muscles of GJQS exhibited a higher concentration of type I collagen than the WJQS. Furthermore, males showed higher concentrations of collagen type I than females. WJQS showed a higher body length, chest girth, chest length, thigh length, thigh girth, drumstick length, and drumstick girth (cm) than GJQS. WJQS showed more significant differences in carcass traits compared with GJQS. Conclusion The physiological differences between WJQS and GJQS were ascertained with microsatellite markers, which indicated high polymorphism between these strains. These observations provided a scientific basis for evaluating and utilizing the genetic resources of WJQS and GJQS in a future genetic improvement program.

Investigations into LDH-A and DR-D4 genes polymorphism, neurotransmitter values and cytogenetic indices of 3 sexed pigeon breeds; non-racing pigeons, (wild rock), racing long distances pigeons (Jan Aarden) and racing short distances pigeons (Janssen) have been performed. The long-distances pigeon showed the highest brain neurotransmitters concentration (p<0.001) among pigeon breeds. Both LDH-A and DR-D4 genes polymorphism indicate the presence of different biodiversity values among pigeon breeds. The variations appeared on the position length 389bp for LDH-A polymorphism, and on two positions length of 418bp and 524bp for DR-D4 polymorphism of long distances male pigeon indicate the presence of unique diversity and overall differences in the amino acids structure in this breed. The protein sequence of both genes showed that in the position of 60 for LDH-A gene the amino acid K (lys) was converted to E (glu), while, in the positions of 117 and 153 for DR-D4 gene the amino acid R (arg) and L (leu) were converted to S (ser) and F (phe) only in long distances male pigeon compared to the other breeds. Moreover, there were slight differences in cytogenetic indices detected among the three pigeon breeds. It can be concluded that both DR-D4 and LDH-A genes polymorphism and neurotransmitters estimations in the brain tissue of racing pigeon would be useful indices for the differentiation and genetic characterization of pigeon breeds and provide a foundation for developing sustainable genetic improvement and conservation programs of the breeding and selecting racing pigeon breeders.

Sixty individuals from two commercial strains Sasso (n=20), Ross (n=20), and one local chicken breed Baladi (n=20) were amplified by 12 microsatellite markers. Over 12 loci in three chicken populations, we found a total of 96 alleles with an average of 8 alleles per locus. There were 15 alleles in locus ADL0315; and only 3 alleles in locus MCW0210. In specific alleles, overall loci (12 microsatellite loci) found 39 out of 96 alleles (40.63 %) with three populations. Twenty distinct alleles were found for the Baladi breed and 5 alleles for the Sasso strain, while 14 were found for the Ross strain. Most frequencies of alleles were distributed with low frequency, but the 14 allele frequency was higher than 0.5. The PIC and He averages in the Baladi breed were 0.679 and 0.70, respectively, while those in the Sasso strain were 0.588 and 0.61, respectively, which were the lowest. In Baladi chicken breed has highly informative PIC values exceed 0.5 except one marker of MCW0210 had reasonably informative markers. Also, in Sasso chicken strain has highly informative PIC values exceed 0.5 except five markers of MCW0210, ADL0037, MCW0206, MCW0002, and ADL0158 had reasonably informative markers. Finally, in Ross chicken strain has highly informative PIC values exceed 0.5 except three markers of MCW0210, ADL0037 and MCW0016 had reasonably informative markers. The mean values of IC obtained estimate 0.23 and 0.28 for Baladi breed and Sasso strain respectively, indicating the high level of inbreeding indicating low variability in their populations. While the mean value of 0.1 for the Ross breed indicating high variability in this breed. These findings could be attributed to a more recent divergence of Ross than Baladi breed and Sasso strain.

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