Heritable
Traits
The Use of
Genetics and Selection in Breeding Poultry
By
Brian Reeder
In the hobby
of breeding domestic fowl, we tend to focus on the issue of genetics as a
one-trait/one-gene affair. This is not always the case and linkage can produce
what appears to be one gene that is actually several genes coming together and
interacting with the chemical pathways of pigment production to make the
finished phenotype. Many other factors can combine to make the appearance of a
“gene” that is in actuality several genes, linked or not, interacting. What we do in the hobby when we speak
of “genes” is to actually describe heritable
factors. A heritable factor is often observed to show a distinct
Mendelian genetic segregation ratio. In many case, the heritable factor is
likely, in fact, a single gene with a noted dominance or recessiveness. However, in some cases a heritable
factor is not a single gene.
Pattern gene is a noted example of multi-gene interactions involving
linkages. We say that there is one pattern gene (Pg). Carefoot showed good
statistical evidence that this is so and that there is one major gene,
interacting with a handful of other well-known heritable factors or “genes” to
produce the range of patterned varieties we see in the modern exhibition
breeds. I agree with his assessments. I have however noted that “pattern gene”
can show a range of expressions. Some of these are of course examples of
various levels of heterozygosity, both for needed factors and unneeded factors
that are detrimental to the desired visual phenotype. In other cases, testing
suggests that birds can be homozygotes for all the needed genes and yet they do
not express that same type of expression. Lacing is a prime example of this. Lacing
requires the linkage group of Pg/db+/Ml with Co and preferably on ER or eb. Er
birds also require the gene Db, which is in a linkage pattern with Ml and Pg.
However lacing ranges from a very fine lace to a heavy, muddy lace on both
e-alleles. I have seen cases of lacing that were on the same e-allele and
tested at homozygosity for the required genes, but produced drastically
different lacing and outcrosses of the two, in generations past the F1 tended
to segregate into one type or the other; fine laced or heavy laced. Are we
seeing two different alleles of Pg? Two different genes completely that do very
similar things, or perhaps we are seeing the effect of another gene such as a
melanizer or even a factor that merely modifies the expression of the lace? Could
there be a factor that changes the expression of Pg at some point in the
developmental pigment pathway? I don’t know, but there are clearly such
differences across the entire expression of the heritable factor Pg and my
observations suggest that the differences are in some way heritable, and
segregating, as one would expect for a Mendelian gene. Such questions are
fascinating and may in time be answered.
In the hobby, we would seek to test mate to produce statistical models
of segregation pattern. We then name a gene, using our statistics to prove the
unseen presence of a strand of DNA somewhere on a chromosome. This is the
research model of one hundred years ago. It is usable, as far as it goes, but
it may be a poor model for naming and designating genes. It is more attuned to
diagnosing heritable factors. Heritable factors may not always have a basis on
a one-gene/one-trait scenario. However, that does not mean they are not useful.
In the real world of laboratory research, where actual genes (groups of
DNA base pairs working in unison to produce specific proteins) are mapped and
traits linked to such, we see a real capacity to name a “gene”. When they say
that they have mapped the gene, they mean that literally. In the hobby, when we
say that we have discovered a gene, we have actually observed a heritable
factor. Beyond really large and long range data collection using huge numbers,
it is not very credulous to put too much faith in the small numbers we work
with to definitively declare a “gene”, because we in no way have observed such.
With that said though, the observation of a heritable pattern is still useful
and factual. A hobbyist doesn’t need to know where the gene is or the
designation given by the scientists who have mapped a given gene. What the
hobbyist who wishes to pursue any given phenotype or trait needs to know is
heritable probabilities. Some factors have very good statistical data to
confirm that they are truly a gene, in the literal sense, and in some cases,
our friends in the laboratory are showing us where those genes actually are in
the DNA. To me, this is extremely fascinating and engrossing. I suspect that in
time, such research will become extremely useful to the hobbyists of the
future. I just hope I live to see the hand held chicken egg scanner that tells
you if the embryo is alive and its entire genetic structure so you can decide
whether to set the egg or not. I visualize it looking much like a tricorder from
Star Trek, or perhaps even as an app for your Iphone. Until then, however, for
the most part, we rely on observed and observable data concerning heritable
traits. There is probably a high correlation between observed traits and DNA
segments, but the important part is to understand how the factor behaves and if
it is a simple factor or a complex factor. The former can be followed with a
simple Mendelian ratio while the later requires a quantitative approach.
So how does the hobbyist apply the
gathered knowledge of domestic fowl heritable factors? They decide what traits
they are selecting for, first and foremost. Most will focus on color, while
some will focus on form and a few will work on more intangible traits. The
first step is to really, honestly, assess where you want to focus and then make
a list of the traits that are most important. Here is where you are going to
focus. However, it is not impossible to give a large range of traits some
consideration. I would respectfully suggest that everyone could benefit their
birds and themselves by selecting for hardiness and heritable disease
resistance. Some deeply inbred lines could use an outcross here and there to
something that isn’t nearly as bottle necked as they are. Aggressive birds are
not always a joy to work with and birds with poor egg production make
reproduction difficult and the possibility of a bottleneck become that much
higher. If we first remember that no matter which “breed” we are working with
we are breeding domestic fowl, then we can select for a healthy and functional
domestic fowl as well as the traits that make it the given “breed”.
Selection for many traits requires a
quantitative approach. Select a few traits that are most important to you and
these are given the most emphasis, scoring higher in your evaluation. The
absence of said traits can be cause to eliminate a bird if the heritable factor
is generally dominant. The absence of a recessive gene in the phenotype can
still make for a useful breeder, if it is a heterozygote for the gene. However,
do not stop there and note a whole range of factors so you can know your line.
Evaluate it honestly and when all else is equal in your priority traits, select
the individuals with the best secondary traits on your list. In each
generation, your goal is to merely increase the presence of as many of your
selected traits as possible. The actual increase can be small, perhaps only
five or ten percent, but if you are seeing any percentage of increase in trait
expression then you are making progress on the population as a whole. That is
how you form a strain. A strain is a highly selected line of relatives. They
produce recognizable combinations in most instances. On the level of selection
for heritable traits, concentrating the selected heritable traits into high expression
in the phenotype is the hallmark of a ‘strain’. This also implies high levels
of homozygosity for the heritable factors, such as genes, gene combinations, or
other modifying interactions that may affect the phenotype.
The key to fast progress in heritable trait selection is to obtain very
homozygous stock from a strain or to work with large numbers in order to apply
selection pressure to increase the homozygosity for the targeted traits. The
smaller the number raised, the slower your progress may be. However, even when
working with small numbers, selection albeit limited, can still be applied.
Genetic knowledge can be of great use to the person who can only work with a
small number of individuals but wants to create some type of advancement with
their stock. The best advice I can offer is to look for very hardy, fertile
lines with good production and temperament and then bring in traits from
outside of that line where needed through outcrosses to create your target
phenotype. If you can find a strain with good domestic fowl qualities and
expressing highly bred phenotype traits, they are jewels of great value and can
both be bred as-is and used in improving other lines with similar heritable
traits. There are a few well know
varieties of certain exhibition breeds that are noted for being very well bred,
with many good traits combined. They usually aren’t the most ‘fru-fru’ and
frilly, but they are very good, sound birds that are a joy to work with and can
be used to reinvigorate a great many breeds that share one or two major traits
in common. When using this technique, a working knowledge of heritability
traits can be valuable.
