The red junglefowl, the wild ancestors of chickens, could become extinct if they have sex with domesticated chickens.
A new study shows that the junglefowl are under the threat of those domesticated chickens who want to mate with them.
In China and other parts of Southeast Asia, between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago, humans started to farm red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) for the first time.
The farmers began selectively breeding individuals with desirable traits, such as having more meat or producing more eggs. The wild birds eventually evolved into the chickens that we know today.
The practice of farming chickens was then adopted all over the globe, Live Science reported.
Between 20% and 50% of wild red junglefowl genes have been inherited from domesticated chickens. The rate of genetic mixing has increased over time, according to a new study published in the PLOS Genetics journal.
Despite this increase in shared DNA, the researchers have warned that a reduced gene pool in wild junglefowl populations could also have negative implications for domesticated chickens.
The team believes that attempts should be made to protect wild red junglefowl subspecies from any further introgression — this is the introduction of genes from one species into the gene pool of another species.
“Our study brings to light the current and ongoing loss of the wild junglefowl genotype, suggesting that efforts may be needed to safeguard its full genetic diversity,” the researchers wrote.
Compiled by Mashudu Mabila
Pictured above: A red junglefowl
Image source: A-Z Birds
