High-altitude chickens evolved genetic tricks to survive thin air
Bello SF, Terefe E, Ye H, Adeola AC, Zhou Z
Climate Adaptation
This one's about chickens, not plants, so it won't change how you garden, but the same genome-scanning tools researchers used here to spot altitude-adaptation genes are increasingly used to find drought- and UV-tolerance genes in crop wild relatives.
Chickens that live high in the mountains of China face two big challenges: thin air with less oxygen, and strong sunlight with more UV radiation. Researchers compared the DNA of these mountain chickens to lowland chickens and found five genes that seem to have changed to help them survive, genes tied to how the body uses oxygen and handles cellular stress. This kind of genetic detective work could eventually help breed farm animals, and by extension crops, that are more resilient to tough environments.
Key Findings
Researchers analyzed whole-genome sequences from 118 birds across five indigenous Chinese chicken populations plus 295 public genomes
Nine genomic regions showed strong positive selection, with five genes (TPK1, BAZ2B, MARCHF7, LLGL2, RCAN3) repeatedly flagged across multiple selection scan methods
High-altitude chickens showed reduced genetic diversity and historical declines in effective population size, with RNA-seq confirming differential expression of the five genes in lung and heart tissue
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists sequenced the genomes of Chinese chickens living at high altitude and found specific genes that help them cope with low oxygen and intense UV light, offering clues for breeding hardier poultry.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Whole-genome sequencing identifies genetic diversity and adaptive signatures of hypoxia and ultraviolet radiation in Chinese chickens.
Domestic chickens primarily descended from the wild red junglefowl, play a crucial role in global egg and meat production. China hosts diverse indigenous chicken populations that have adapted to va...
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Genomics is the comprehensive study of an organism's entire DNA sequence, examining how all genes function together and interact to shape traits and processes. For plants, genomics reveals the genetic basis of crop performance, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation, enabling the
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