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innumerable researches conducted
throughout the Globe. Several genes
both functional and non-functional have
been identified and mapped. A huge
Exploring Genomics number of SNPs have been detected
in chicken genome. But, main aim of
for Revolution in the genomic study is to utilize the
genomic information for uncovering
Poultry Production several physiological phenomenon
involved in maintaining living systems.
In fact, all biological pathways are
dependent on enzymes and co-factors.
Till date, a huge collection of genomic information in poultry is available, The enzymes are protein in nature
which has been the outcome of innumerable researches conducted throughout and these proteins are encoded by
the Globe —By Dr Som Dutt genes and hence, protein molecule is
the most important fundamental
Chicken genomics has been the first genscan gene prediction reports reveal particle present in the living beings.
study performed among all the farm the presence of approximately 40,505 Without protein, nothing is possible
animals after initiation of Human genes in chicken genome. and there will be no existence of life.
Genome Project. Keeping importance The total number of single The proteins derived from genes
of chicken in farm livelihood, the nucleotide polymorphism found in and phenotypes derived from proteins
species was selected for genes was about 3,202,570. Thus, a are basic principles of functional
accomplishment of Chicken Genome huge genomic information is currently genomic study. To understand different
project. The total genomic length of biological pathways, to identify the
chicken is 1.2X10 6 bp in which genes involved in controlling a specific
approximately 4,782 genes are In Brief character, to explore the participation
present.  Chicken genomics has been of genes in growth and development
EXPLORING CHICKEN GENOMICS the first study performed of various organs/systems/tissues/
The study of ESTs, global gene among all the farm animals. cells and to detect genetic marker for
expression profiling etc. performed to specific trait, functional genomics hold
establish metabolic pathways and  Several genes regulate egg an enormous prospect. A number of
functional mapping for localization of production and meat genomics tools are being considered
gene on the chromosome. Several production in chicken. of which the most important ones are
genes regulate egg production and  Genomics in poultry has expressed sequence tag (EST), global
meat production in chicken. The study bright future to augment gene expression profiling,
of these genes will explore genetic productivity at a faster rate. identification of functional genes,
markers for the traits to be further used  Till date, a huge collection of functional mapping and genetic marker.
in selection programme and to produce genomic information in These tools are essential to intersect
genetically superior animals having poultry is available. the chicken genome so that
potential of enriched egg production/  A huge number of SNPs have physiological and biochemical
meat production/egg protein/meat been detected in chicken pathways are unravelled. The molecular
protein/low egg cholesterol/low meat mechanisms are to be defined first so
cholesterol etc. genome. that the key events are modulated as
Genomics in poultry has bright per the desire of the farmers, for
future to augment productivity at a available with us and now, the prime example production of protein rich egg
faster rate in poultry sector. The genetic focus of molecular biologists is to and meat, low cholesterol egg and
mechanism that governs explore gene-function relationship in meat, PUFA enriched egg etc. The
multiplication, differentiation, growth regulating metabolic pathways and status of the genomic tools in chicken
and function in chicken are not fully guiding the process of transcription has been described below in brief.
uncovered. The number of non- and translation of RNA molecules, The ESTs are nothing but the partial
functional or pseudogenes identified DNA replication and cell division, and sequences of transcripts expressed in
is about 96, while the number of RNA finally, cell to cell communication for specific tissues, which are
genes is about 650. The total number expressing the traits or phenotypes. representatives of specific gene
of exons across the whole chicken PURSUING A NOBLE PURPOSE transcripts. Initially, cDNA libraries are
genome is reported as about 1,80,000 Till date, a huge collection of genomic prepared for specific tissue and high
from which 22,290 gene transcripts information in poultry is available, through put sequencing is done on the
have been predicted. However, which has been the outcome of clones.
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