Difference between revisions of "Bird Genetics"
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Latest revision as of 10:46, 27 March 2020
Birds have a different sex chromosome configuration than mammals. The sex chromosomes of birds are called Z and W while those of mammals are called X and Y. The Z chromosome is the carrier of the most sex linked genes of interest for the chicken breeder.
Male birds have 2 Z chromosomes per cell. Female birds only have one Z chromosome and one odd partner chromosome called W, per cell. The W chromosome does not carry many genes of interest for the chicken breeder.
The sex chromosome configuration causes the phenomenon of sexlinked inheritance .
Birds can be sexual dimorphic: Male and female expressing different traits. These do not have to be sexlinked.