The RAPD markers were used to detect genetic polymorphism among three chicken breeds i.e., Rhode Island Red (RIR), New Hampshire (NH) and White Leghorn (WLH) by using 10 random decamer primers. Five of the 9 random primers (56%) generated reproducible polymorphism pattern between 3 chicken breeds while other 4 primers (44%) produced monomorphic RAPD patterns. A total of 43 bands were amplified and 36 (83%) of them were polymorphic. The average numbers of the total bands amplified per primer were 5 (RIR), 4 (NH) and 5 (WLH). The RAPD profile of NH on amplification with the primers OPAW11 showed specific bands of molecular size 1897 bp and 702 bp whereas the RAPD profile of RIR on amplification with primer OPAW11, OPBF7 and OPAW3 showed specific bands of molecular size 629 bp, 812 bp and 344 bp, respectively.
New Hampshire, RAPD, polymorphism, Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn
