Domestic chicken diversity: Origin, distribution, and adaptation

• Published in: Animal genetics Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 385 - 394
• Main Authors: Lawal, R. A., Hanotte, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Adaptability; Adaptation; Animal husbandry; Chickens; Climate change; divergence time; Domestic animals; domestication; Environmental conditions; Evolutionary genetics; Food security; Gallus; Genomes; Human populations; junglefowl; Literature reviews; Livestock; Livestock breeding; Mendelian trait; Migration; Natural selection; Phylogeny; Population growth; Population studies; Poultry; Species diversity
• ISSN: 0268-9146; 1365-2052
• DOI: 10.1111/age.13091

Summary
Chicken is the most numerous among the domesticated livestock species. Across cultures, religions, and societies, chicken is widely accepted with little or no taboo compared to other domestic animals. Its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and demonstrated potential for breeding improvement provide a unique genetic resource for addressing the challenges of food security in a world impacted by climatic change and human population growth. Recent studies, shedding new knowledge on the chicken genomes, have helped reconstruct its past evolutionary history. Here, we review the literature concerning the origin, dispersion, and adaptation of domestic chicken. We highlight the role of human and natural selection in shaping the diversity of the species and provide a few examples of knowledge gaps that may be the focus of future research.