Mapping the genomes of bird species like poultry will enable a deeper understanding of genetic characteristics.

Will allow for poultry diseases to be fought at a genetic level

A 'revolutionary' new method to map and assemble genomes has been developed by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Kent.

The approach is particularly effective in birds and gives geneticists the ability to put together (chromosome-level) genome assemblies.

Described in the journal Genome Research, the new process is cheaper than traditional methods and allows geneticists to achieve chromosome level genome assembly much quicker.

Chromosome level genome assembly is extremely useful to science, but its practical application has been difficult to achieve for many species without significant investment.

The new method, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council, uses universal probes to secure scaffolds to chromosomes.

While this method has existed for some time, this research is the first to make a complete panel of universal probes. What this means is that once the DNA has been extracted from the probes, they can be used universally - even on avian genomes.

Before this research, the genomes of just three species of birds had been published to complete chromosome level. But this new approach allowed the team to map and assemble to complete genome of the peregrine falcon and pigeons.

The team says that the method will benefit the farming industry, as mapping the genomes of bird species like poultry will enable a deeper understanding of genetic characteristics. Furthermore, it will allow for diseases to be fought at a genetic level.

Looking ahead, the team hope to apply the method to mammals.