International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 44-53 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 48 5 Case Study: Chickens in East Africa 5.1 Unique environmental and cultural context In East Africa, most chickens are raised by rural families, usually in free-range, low-input conditions. These chickens face many challenges, such as heat, drought, hunger, and frequent diseases (Fleming et al., 2016). Despite the harsh environment, these chickens are important to family life. They not only provide food but also bring in some income. In many rural families, the task of caring for the chickens is often the responsibility of women (Mujyambere et al., 2021). East African chickens did not come from just one place. In the past, Asian chickens were brought to East Africa many times, some by sea and some by land. These chickens later mixed with local chickens, forming a relatively rich genetic background. Judging from their genes, the maternal origins of these chickens are very complex, reflecting ancient trade and cultural exchanges (Mwacharo et al., 2011). 5.2 Key genomic findings By studying genes, scientists have found that local chickens in East Africa are not only genetically diverse, but also have many characteristics that adapt to the local environment (Figure 2) (Morris et al., 2024). Researchers used high-density SNP chips and whole genome sequencing to find that these chickens have many traces of mixing local breeds and foreign chickens. In addition, some of their genes are related to fat metabolism, immune system and stress response. Some genes selected by nature or artificially can help these chickens adapt to high altitudes. For example, some genes are involved in angiogenesis and oxygen carrying capacity, and some genes are related to disease resistance and anti-oxidative stress (Elbeltagy et al., 2019). Through mitochondrial and autosomal analysis, several different gene groups were also found, indicating that East Africa may be an important intersection for the spread and adaptation of chickens (Mwacharo et al., 2013). Figure 2 Unique attributes of indigenous chicken (Adopted from Pius et al., 2021) 5.3 Implications for conservation and breeding The local chickens of East Africa are actually quite special, not only because they are highly adaptable, but also because they are rich in genetic diversity. Although many places are promoting high-yield commercial chickens, these local breeds are more resilient in the face of climate change and various new diseases (Gheyas et al., 2022).
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