~ 1697 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(1): 1697-1701 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2018; 6(1): 1697-1701 © 2018 JEZS Received: 01-11-2017 Accepted: 02-12-2017 Humera Hamid Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China Muhammad Ameen Jamal Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Reproduction, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China Irfan Ahmed Yunnan provisional key laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China Shahzad Munir Faculty of plant protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China Sikandar Ali Yunnan provisional key laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China Hafiz Muhammad Wariss Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China Mir Zulqarnain Talpur Yunnan provisional key laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China Correspondence Mir Zulqarnain Talpur Yunnan provisional key laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province Peoples of Republic of China A brief overview of impact of genotype, single nucleotide polymorphism and environment on quality of chicken meat: A review Humera Hamid, Muhammad Ameen Jamal , Irfan Ahmed, Shahzad Munir, Sikandar Ali, Hafiz Muhammad Wariss and Mir Zulqarnain Talpur Abstract Based on customers’ demand, focus on sensory quality and nutritional characteristic of chicken meat production has been increased in past several decades. From the last few years, development in molecular genetics controls the identification of genes, or markers related with genes that upset chickens meat quality. The meat industries are consistently producing high quality meat. However, there have been profound necessities to understand the biochemical and genetic factors that affect the meat quality. The current focus is on genetic factors affecting physical quality of chicken meat. Further, pH of meat plays a vital role in the evaluation of quality of freshness as well as seasonal meat products. Complex quantitative traits such as water holding capacity (WHC) and drip associated meat quality features is also affected due to multiple genes. Meat tenderness got a substantial genetic constituent. Earlier research on gene expression exposed a massive set of genes which are mentioned in clusters of high/low pH and drip loss. These biological trails were the basis of the candidate genes. This is one of the reasons why the identification of a single gene with ample influence on chickens’ meat quality is very difficult. So, the main focus of this review is to compile identified candidate genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with meat quality traits of chicken. Keywords: genotype, environment, meat, chicken Introduction Chicken meat quality refers to compositional quality lean to fat ratio and the deliciousness such as tenderness, visual appearance, firmness, smell, juiciness, and flavor [9] . The importance of meat production traits are influenced by management, nutrition and pre- and post-slaughter handling, and heritability. The scientific revelations suggested that the variation is being controlled by genetic makeup of animal, and could be improved by selection criteria. The 35% of the observed differences seen in muscle structure are below genetic control [65] . Numerous genes, such as Rendment Napole (RN), Ryanodine receptor (RYR1), Calpastatin (CAST) etc. have been documented to be associated with the meat quality [21, 35] . The identification of the genes that control the disparity in a trait would help in selection programs. Among dissimilar approaches applied to identify gene controlling of chickens meat quality, the effective way is to understand the physiology of the trait to identify the biochemical pathways involved by testing the genes so called “candidate gene”. Testing of candidate genes is to identify the polymorphisms within the genes and observes the extent of polymorphisms for a particular trait. Selection of candidate gene requires prior knowledge of the trait and the underlying physiology traits. Approach of candidate gene deals identification of genetic polymorphisms that have a determinate result on certain traits of interest [59] . Through the direct candidate gene approach, the recognition of the candidate genes can be done via studying its pathology, biochemistry and physiology which can specify the main features of the trait. Furthermore, the indirect approaches for the identification of the candidate genes are: positional candidate approach and comparative mapping approach. The former approach integrates certain data with the mapped evidence on genes reflecting specific patterns. The later approach combines the results of reverse genetics efforts and information on genes mapped in the corresponding synteny group in other species [28] . To date, by using these techniques, many candidate genes have been investigated to identify genes disturbing economic characters [27] . Moreover, the latest techniques are based on the variation investigated in the expression portfolio of individuals with specific phenotypes for detecting these candidate genes [8, 48, 62, 66] .