Estimation of genetic relatedness of naked neck and normally feathered broilers using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to analyse the genetic polymorphism between naked neck and normally feathered broilers and this polymorphism was further utilized in estimating the genetic similarity/genetic distance between these populations. Five of the 9 random primers (about 56%) revealed reproducible-polymorphic pattern and 2 primer revealed monomorphic pattern. A total or 42 bands scored in which 12 bands (28.57%) were polymorphic. The results revealed that the genetic groups had high genetic similarity between themselves. Among all the possible comparison, the white plumage heterozygous naked neck (WPNa/na) showed more genetic similarity (0.975) with colour plumage heterozygous naked neck (CPNa/na) broiler. The next closer relationship (0.945) was found among white plumage normally feathered and coloured plumage normally feathered broilers. The genetic distance based on band sharing was lowest (0.025) among WPNa/na and CPNa/na followed by WPna/na and CPna/na (0.055). The highest genetic distance was between WPNa/na and CPna/na (0.163). The present study revealed the use of RAPD markers in detecting the polymorphism and genetic relatedness of naked neck and normally feathered broilers.