Sex linkage in poultry

Barred and black plumage in poultry
Fig. 16.11. Barred and black plumage in poultry.
In poultry, female individual is heterogametic having only one X-chromosome (XO condition) and male is homogametic having two X-chromosomes (XX). Therefore, inheritance pattern in relation to sex will be reversed in this case. Barred plumage is a popular example of sex linked character in poultry. In an individual, which has barred plumage, feathers are banded with bars of black on a white background (Fig. 16.11). Reciprocal crosses using this character will be discussed in this section.

Barred and black plumage in poultry
Fig. 16.11. Barred and black plumage in poultry.

Barred ♀x black ♂. If barred (B-)female individual is crossed with black male (bb)individual, (barred is normal and dominant over black), only barred males and black females are obtained in F1 generation. When these are intercrossed and F2 progeny is raised, barred and black individuals appear in 1 : 1 ratio, among male as well as female populations (Fig. 16.12).
Inheritance of plumage character in poultry in a cross barred ♀ x black ♂
Fig. 16.12. Inheritance of plumage character in poultry in a cross barred ♀x black
Inheritance of plumage character in poultry in a cross black ♀ x barred ♂
Fig. 16.13. Inheritance of plumage character in poultry in a cross black ♀ x barred ♂


Black ♀ x barred. When black female individual (b-) is crossed with barred male (BB), all progeny (male as well as female) would be barred in F, generation. In F2 generation barred and black individuals would be found in 1 : 1 ratio among female population. All F2 male individuals would be barred (Fig. 16.13).

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