Climate change can have numerous effects on chicken farming — and research in China has shed new light on the genes that control their adaptation to a growing problem.
A warming planet can result in increased incidence of heat stress in commercial birds, affecting growth, fertility and egg quality.
Global genomes under the microscope
The Chinese scientists used whole-genome data from 199 domestic chickens raised under different conditions throughout the world. They applied genomic and statistical analysis methods to make connections between observed genetic variation and 19 climatic metrics.
Results published in the journal Genetics Selection Evolution initially highlighted 82 genes which could be linked to temperature adaptation in the birds, as well as 62 linked to adaptation to precipitation.
Genes linked to climatic factors
To further narrow down their search, they first explored the pathways of large groups of genes to try and establish their biological functions. One specific pathway is involved in the nervous system and has been previously linked with heat tolerance in other species. This drew the researchers’ attention to a gene called TSHR, which helps regulate thyroid function, with the scientists concluding that it has multiple possible functions in climate adaptation.
Further, they identified five common variations in genetic sequences, known as SNPs, which had distinct geographic distribution. This resulted in a list of genes ripe for further exploration. They linked the genes ZNF536 and ENSGALG00000049158 to adaptation to temperature peaks in geographical zones, while two further genes, PAPPA and EHMT1, could be related to adaptation to precipitation levels, they concluded.
The study also identified clusters of genetically similar birds between different geographies. For example, populations of birds from Western China had similarities with those from South and Central Asia and Africa, while populations from Southern China had more in common with those from Southeast Asia.
Breeding for a hotter, wetter future
The findings offer the possibility that chickens can be bred to better withstand the stressors that come with climate change.
“Our results deepen the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of climate-driven adaptation in domestic chickens and other livestock species, providing a foundation for the use of molecular markers in breeding populations with varying degrees of adaptability,” the scientists added.
Key takeaways
- Climate change heightens heat stress risks, threatening poultry performance globally.
- Researchers analysed whole-genome data from 199 chickens across varied climates.
- Dozens of genes linked to temperature and precipitation adaptation emerged.
- TSHR gene may play multiple roles in climate resilience.
- Results support breeding chickens better suited to future climate pressures.
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