This study used whole-genome resequencing to identify genetic loci under selection during the domestication of chickens and their subsequent specialization into broiler and layer breeds. The researchers generated 44.5-fold coverage of the chicken genome from eight different populations of domestic chickens and red jungle fowl, the wild ancestor. They identified over 7 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), nearly 1,300 deletions, and several putative selective sweeps. One of the most significant selective sweeps was at the locus for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), which plays a crucial role in metabolic regulation and reproductive control. Other selective sweeps overlapped genes related to growth, appetite, and metabolic regulation. The study also detected two coding sequence deletions that are likely functionally important. The findings provide insights into the genetic basis of domestication and have implications for animal breeding and biomedical research.This study used whole-genome resequencing to identify genetic loci under selection during the domestication of chickens and their subsequent specialization into broiler and layer breeds. The researchers generated 44.5-fold coverage of the chicken genome from eight different populations of domestic chickens and red jungle fowl, the wild ancestor. They identified over 7 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), nearly 1,300 deletions, and several putative selective sweeps. One of the most significant selective sweeps was at the locus for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), which plays a crucial role in metabolic regulation and reproductive control. Other selective sweeps overlapped genes related to growth, appetite, and metabolic regulation. The study also detected two coding sequence deletions that are likely functionally important. The findings provide insights into the genetic basis of domestication and have implications for animal breeding and biomedical research.