Indian Journal of Poultry Science

Naim, Adnan, Mishra, S.K. and Nayak, Debasis 2020. Bio banking of indigenous chicken germplasm by cryo-preservation of germline potent early embryonic cells and gonadal tissues. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(1): 1–9.

Global climate change and sudden disease outbreaks has badly affected the genetically rich and valuable avian germplasm, including indigenous and commercial poultry lines. Native breeds of chicken are known for their characteristic features like plumage colour, immuno-competency, protein enrichment, environmental pressure resistance etc. However, these high quality and genetically diversified indigenous chicken breed germplasm is either neglected or less acknowledged by the stakeholders, therefore, these valuable breeds are at the verge of extinction. Presently, a particular poultry breed is maintained as in situ i.e. in the form of live birds, which makes them an easy target for any pathogenic outbreak, genetic drift, breeding issues and natural disasters. Bio-banking of indigenous chicken breed using novel technologies, developed in recent years, viz., cryopreservation of early embryonic cells like Blastodermal Cells (BDCs), Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs), Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) and the gonadal tissues and by creating sterile hybrids as universal recipient of early embryonic cells from different avian species is therefore, an immediate need, as these techniques offer a guarantee to safeguard the complete genetic trait of the valuable avian germplasm which can be used to reconstitute the pure line breed as per the demand in future. This paper reviews the current status and prospects of Bio-Banking of two important native chicken breeds, Kadaknath and Aseel, as models for Bio-banking by cryo-preserving the PGCs.