Characterization of Chicken Skin Yellowness and Exploration of Genes Involved in Skin Yellowness Deposition in Chicken

• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.585089
• Publication Date: 2021-03-31T04:37:02Z
• Authors: Jingwen Wu; Zetong Lin; Genghua Chen; Qingbin Luo; Qinghua Nie; Xiquan Zhang; Wen Luo
• Keywords: Skin Color

Skin color is an important economic trait in meat-type chickens. A uniform bright skin can increase the sales value of chicken. Chickens with yellow are more popular China, especially broiler market South China. However, chickens vary because differences breeds, diet, health, and individual genetics. To obtain greater insight into genetic factors associated process pigmentation chickens, we used a colorimeter high-resolution photographs to measure analyze By analyzing 534 same breed, age, feed condition, found that yellowness values varied within this population. significant positive correlation was between cloacal before after slaughter, live positively correlated overall body value. Additionally, chicken exhibited low heritability, ranging from 0.07 0.27. Through RNA sequencing, 882 genes were be differentially expressed highest lowest values. Some these may play role pigment deposition skin, which included TLR2B, IYD, SMOC1, ALDH1A3, CYP11A1, FHL2, TECRL, ACACB, TYR, PMEL , GPR143 . In addition, expression variations BCO2 gene, referred as cannot estimate These data will help further our understanding might contribute selection specific strains consistent coloration.