In the lush, isolated mountains of southwestern Yunnan Province, China, a unique breed of chicken has long been known for its distinctive appearance and remarkable resilience to heat. The Ake chicken, with its featherless neck, has captivated scientists and farmers alike, not just for its unusual trait, but for its potential to revolutionize poultry farming in a warming world. Recent research, led by Ronglang Cai from the State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding at China Agricultural University, has shed new light on the genetic basis of the naked-neck trait, offering a promising avenue for developing heat-resistant chicken breeds.
The naked-neck trait, characterized by a reduced number of feathers on the neck and sometimes the rest of the body, is not just a curiosity; it’s a survival advantage in hot climates. Chickens with this trait can better dissipate heat, making them more resilient to heat stress. This is particularly important as global temperatures rise, posing significant challenges to the poultry industry. Heat stress can lead to reduced feed intake, lower egg production, and even mortality, resulting in substantial economic losses. According to Cai, “The naked-neck trait is a natural adaptation to high temperatures, and understanding its genetic basis can help us breed chickens that are more resilient to climate change.”
Cai and his team used advanced sequencing technologies, including Oxford Nanopore Technologies and next-generation sequencing, to unravel the genetic mystery behind the naked-neck trait in Ake chickens. They compared the genomes of Ake chickens with those of other naked-neck chicken breeds from Iran and Egypt. The results, published in Poultry Science, revealed a 73-kb insertion at the end of chromosome 3, a mutation that was consistent across all the naked-neck breeds studied. This insertion, they found, was homologous to an intergenic region between the WNT11 and UVRAG genes on chromosome 1, suggesting a potential regulatory role in feather development.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. By identifying the genetic basis of the naked-neck trait, scientists can now develop molecular markers for selective breeding. This could lead to the creation of new chicken breeds that are not only heat-resistant but also more efficient in terms of feed conversion and growth rates. For the energy sector, this means a potential reduction in the carbon footprint of poultry farming. Heat-stressed chickens require more energy for cooling, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Heat-resistant breeds could mitigate this issue, contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly poultry production.
Moreover, the findings could have broader implications for the study of chromosomal variations and their role in phenotypic traits. The discovery of the 73-kb insertion and its potential regulatory function opens up new avenues for research in genetics and genomics. As Cai notes, “This study provides a genetic foundation for the naked-neck trait in chickens and offers a reliable molecular marker for future breeding programs. It also highlights the importance of studying native breeds, which often harbor unique adaptations to their local environments.”
As the world grapples with climate change, the Ake chicken’s naked-neck trait offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable poultry farming. By harnessing the power of genomics, scientists and farmers can work together to create more resilient and efficient chicken breeds, ensuring food security in a changing climate. The journey from the mountains of Yunnan to the global poultry industry is a testament to the power of scientific discovery and its potential to shape a more sustainable future.