Designation by restriction fragment length polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class IV haplotypes in meat‐type chickens

Major histocompatiblity complex (MHC) class IV haplotypes were identified in a population of meat‐type chickens by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Fourteen different haplotypes were designated on the basis of restriction patterns obtained from Southern blots of PvuII‐ or BglII‐digested DNA, hybridized with the MHC class IV cDNA probe bg32.1. Digestion with each restriction enzyme yielded the same level of polymorphism among individuals. For each haplotype, 4–10 restriction fragments ranging from 0–8 to 8 kb were observed. Such a designation of meat‐type chicken MHC class IV haplotypes enables a rapid recognition of previously defined haplotypes, is readily adjustable to additional, newly found restriction patterns and could prove useful in practical breeding programmes.