pool-Seq for the White-Belted Feather Phenotype in Wuhua yellow chickens
This project employs Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) to identify genetic loci associated with the white-belted feather phenotype in Wuhua yellow chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), a distinctive variant characterized by a white transverse band on the back and wing feathers. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on two DNA pools constructed from 35 individuals each: one pool from roosters exhibiting the brown-belted phenotype (control) and another from roosters exhibiting the white-belted phenotype (case). The analysis revealed a significant selective sweep on chromosome 12, with the MITF gene identified as the top candidate gene. These data provide valuable resources for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying plumage patterning and color variation in poultry.