Indian Journal of Poultry Science (2020) 55(1): 1-9; Research Article DOI: 10.5958/0974-8180.2020.00007.0 Bio banking of indigenous chicken germplasm by cryo-preservation of germline potent early embryonic cells and gonadal tissues ADNAN NAIM 1* , S.K. MISHRA 2 AND DEBASIS NAYAK 3 KIIT-Technology Business Incubator, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 1 KIIT-Technology Business Incubator, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 2 ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Regional Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 3 Discipline of BioSciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, MP, India (Received on January 01, 2020; accepted for publication on March 31, 2020) ABSTRACT Naim, Adnan, Mishra, S.K. and Nayak, Debasis 2020. Bio banking of indigenous chicken germplasm by cryo-preservation of germline potent early embryonic cells and gonadal tissues. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(1): 1-9. Global climate change and sudden disease outbreaks has badly affected the genetically rich and valuable avian germplasm, including indigenous and commercial poultry lines. Native breeds of chicken are known for their characteristic features like plumage colour, immuno-competency, protein enrichment, environmental pressure resistance etc. However, these high quality and genetically diversified indigenous chicken breed germplasm is either neglected or less acknowledged by the stakeholders, therefore, these valuable breeds are at the verge of extinction. Presently, a particular poultry breed is maintained as in situ i.e. in the form of live birds, which makes them an easy target for any pathogenic outbreak, genetic drift, breeding issues and natural disasters. Bio-banking of indigenous chicken breed using novel technologies, developed in recent years, viz., cryopreservation of early embryonic cells like Blastodermal Cells (BDCs), Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs), Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) and the gonadal tissues and by creating sterile hybrids as universal recipient of early embryonic cells from different avian species is therefore, an immediate need, as these techniques offer a guarantee to safeguard the complete genetic trait of the valuable avian germplasm which can be used to reconstitute the pure line breed as per the demand in future. This paper reviews the current status and prospects of Bio-Banking of two important native chicken breeds, Kadaknath and Aseel, as models for Bio-banking by cryo-preserving the PGCs. Keywords: Germplasm, Cryopreservation, in situ, Bio-banking, Primordial Germ Cells. *Corresponding Author Email: adnan.kiittbi@gmail.com INTRODUCTION Global scientific achievements in the development of high quality and genetically diverse agriculture livestock breeds including poultry has challenged the researchers and stakeholders to develop novel methods to conserve these precious livestock germplasms. Genotypic and phenotypic divergence of these valuable livestock breeds due to their existence in a particular geographical ecosystem supports their survival in adverse climate and biotic and abiotic stress conditions (Blackburn, 2008; Mohapatra and Panda, 1981). Indigenous chicken breeds like Kadaknath, Aseel, Naked neck, and frizzle fowl bear characteristic valuable genetic and phenotypic trait, which contributes to the economic and social welfare of the rural population involved in the agriculture sector (Khan, 2008). Kadaknath also known as Kala Masi, a native chicken breed is known for its respective character, as the blood and flesh of Kadaknath chicken is considered as aphrodisiac by the Central India tribal population and more likely consumed during health problem like paralysis by them. Aseel, another indigenous chicken breed which has been historically the breed of choice for its tasty meat, cockfighting abilities, agility, and ability to escape from predators (Padhi, 2016). However, these genetically rich and diverse poultry resources remain at the risk of environmental attacks, disease outbreaks and the nutritional bio-safety of the nation remains under high-pressure. As such, approximately 12.5% of the 9920 bird species across the world are endangered (IUCN, 2011). Currently, these high genetic value chicken germplasms are maintained as in situ, either in the poultry- oriented research organisations or commercial poultry breeding industries. Maintaining at least 500 - 1000 birds of a particular chicken breed, as minimum population size necessary for breed identity, could add huge economic burden to any stakeholder. Therefore, such high significance poultry breeds need to be conserved in order to safeguard their genetic diversity (Wilkinson et al., 2012). Germplasm conservation is very challenging in chicken and other poultry birds due to limitations in accessing the whole embryo for cryo-preservation due to large volume of the egg yolk. Cryo-preservation of chicken semen is a successful technology with variable revival rate and limitations to apply for reconstitution of a chicken breed (Aurore et al., 2019; Blesbois et al., 2007). However, cryopreservation of either semen or egg limits the conservation of single gene trait only, which will lead to the loss of the parent genetic information. Therefore, a potential solution to overcome the above said challenges is the bio-banking of avian germplasm by cryopreservation of early embryonic cells like Blastodermal Cells (BDCs), Primordial Germ Cells