Characterizing genetic diversity of contemporary pacific chickens using mitochondrial DNA analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable region (HVR) sequences of prehistoric Polynesian chicken samples reflect dispersal of two haplogroups--D and E--by the settlers of the Pacific. The distribution of these chicken haplogroups has been used as an indicator of human movement. Recent analyses suggested similarities between prehistoric Pacific and South American chicken samples, perhaps reflecting prehistoric Polynesian introduction of the chicken into South America. These analyses have been heavily debated. The current distribution of the D and E lineages among contemporary chicken populations in the Western Pacific is unclear, but might ultimately help to inform debates about the movements of humans that carried them.

Objectives

We sought to characterize contemp

SUBMITTER: Dancause KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3033910 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature