PAX7 gene polymorphism analysis in Bianca di Saluzzo and Bionda Piemontese poultry breeds

The polymorphism of PAX7 gene, an important transcription factor regulating myogenesis of skeletal muscle, was investigated in two slow growing chicken breeds, namely Bionda Piemontese (BP, n=108) and Bianca di Saluzzo (BS n=93) in order to detect a positive association with growth traits. As the survival of autochthonous poultry breeds is related to the marketing of their products, the selection schemes of these small size populations should consider PAX7 gene polymorphism in order to increase female body weight using the marker assisted selection on males.