Why in news?
According to a recent collaborated study, the DNA sequencing of 863 genomes has showed the first domestication of chicken occurred in southwestern China, northern Thailand and Myanmar from Gallus gallus.
What the study says?
The study involved sequencing of genomes from all four species of the genus Gallus, five sub-species of Red Jungle Fowl and various domestic chicken breeds collected worldwide. It revealed single domestication from Red Jungle Fowl sub-species Gallus gallus spadiceus.
The study also demonstrated that all five Red Jungle Fowl sub-species were genetically differentiated from each other approximately 50,000 years ago.
What were the earlier projections?
Charles Darwin postulated that chickens were domesticated around 4,000 B.C. from a single ancestor, Red Jungle Fowl in the Indus Valley.
An important study published earlier from Uppsala University claimed the Grey Jungle Fowl had contributed to chicken domestication.
Source: The Hindu
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