Genetic distance between divergent IC-index broiler chicken lines was estimated by RAPD-PCR technique employing 12 random primers. The IC-index was based on four important immunological traits viz., response to SRBC, PHA-P response, serum lysozyme activity and IgG level. Genomic DNA samples isolated from 20 birds of each line were subjected to RAPD-PCR analysis. Both, within line as well as between line band sharing frequencies (BSF) were estimated, which ranged from 0.72 to 0.93 in high IC-index line and 0.70 to 0.96 in low IC-index line, with different primers, whereas the between line BSF ranged from 0.73 to 0.90. A genetic distance (pooled over the primers) of 0.177 was estimated between lines. Present investigation revealed that 2 generations of selection based on IC-index has resulted in a genetic distance of lower magnitude only between the divergent lines.
Broiler chicken, Band sharing frequency, Divergent selection, Genetic distance, Immunocompetence index, RAPD-PCR
