African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 768-771, August 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic structure among the local chicken ecotypes of Tanzania based on microsatellite DNA typing

P. L. M. Msoffe^1*, M. M. A. Mtambo¹, U. M. Minga^2,3, H. R. Juul-Madsen⁴ and P. S. Gwakisa²

¹Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro Tanzania.

²Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, P. O. Box 3019,Morogoro.

³Open University of Tanzania, P. O. Box 23409, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

⁴Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark

*Corresponding Author. E-Mail: msoffepl@suanet.ac.tz, makengamsoffe@yahoo.co.uk.

Accepted 21 June, 2005

A study was conducted to evaluate the genetic structure of local chicken ecotypes of Tanzania using 20 polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. A standard PCR was followed by manual genotyping (6% native polyacrylamide gel visualized by silver staining). Phylogenetic analysis of 13 individuals from each of the nine ecotypes named Ching’wekwe, Kuchi, Mbeya, Morogoro-medium, N’zenzegere, Pemba, Singamagazi, Unguja and a White Leghorn breed was performed. The ten populations assorted into nine clusters with chickens from the same ecotype often clustering together. It is concluded that there is high genetic relatedness within indigenous chicken ecotype than between ecotypes. This offers a basic step towards rational decision-making on the modalities of selective breeding without compromising the existence of each unique genetic resource.

Key words: Local-chicken, ecotypes, microsatellites, DNA, PCR.