To elucidate geographical and historical aspects of chicken dispersal across Eastern Europe, we analysed the complete mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence of 86 representatives from chicken breeds traditionally raised in the territory of the East European Plain (Orloff, Pavlov, Russian White, Yurlov Crower, Uzbek Game and Naked Neck). From the 1231-1232 bp D-loop sequence, 35 variable sites that defined 22 haplotypes were identified in modern chicken. All populations, except Uzbek Game, exhibited high values of haplotype and nucleotide diversity suggesting a wide variation in maternal diversity. Inclusion of mtDNA sequences from other European and Asian countries revealed representatives from this study belonging to haplogroups A, E1 and C1. We also assessed fossil chicken material dated to the 9th-18th century from archaeological sites in Northern and Eastern Europe. Three haplotypes found in the fossil specimens belonged to haplogroup E1, while one sample dated to the 18th century was assigned to the C1 haplogroup. This is the first report of the occurrence of the C1 haplogroup in European chicken populations prior to the 20th century based on the fossil material. These results provide evidence for a relatively recent introduction of all haplotypes other than E1 into the East European chicken gene pool with the significant impact of the C1 haplogroup mainly distributed in Southern China.
Elucidation of the complex origin of various chicken breeds and populations is of essential importance for understanding, preserving and exploiting their genetic diversity. Here, we aim to assess different contributions to mitochondrial genetic diversity of Pavlov chicken breed. Mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop of 1231/1232 b. p. length) in 37 chickens of Pavlov breed was sequenced. Individuals were selected from three flocks belonging to Federal State Unitary research farm “Gene Pool” (Genofond), Pushkin, Leningrad region, to the collection farm of All-Russian R D and Technology Institute of Poultry Industry (GNU VNITIP), Sergiev Posad, Moscow region, and to fancy breeders from Barnaul (Altai region). The Pavlov chicken D-loop sequences were compared with D-loop sequences annotated in GenBank for established chicken haplogroups. We have found eleven haplotypes belonging to two haplogroups (E1 and A). Genetic uniformity and stability have been shown for the GNU VNITIP and Barnaul flocks, while D-loop high polymorphism was found in the population from the research farm “Gene Pool”. There appears a tendency for genetic fragmentation of Pavlov chicken breed.
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