Alfi Sophian from the Biology doctoral study program earned his doctorate with cum laude honors after successfully identifying new genetic resources in the Nisi chicken. (Gallus gallus Domesticus). In the open doctoral defense of the University of Indonesia held on December 27, 2022, Alfi delivered his dissertation entitled “Study of Nisi Chicken” (Gallus gallus Domesticus) Based on Morphometric, Bioacoustic, and Genetic Analysis”.
This research was conducted in Gorontalo Province, located in Bone Bolango Regency, Pinogu Village. Pinogu Village was chosen as the research location because preliminary tests revealed that the Nisi chicken was not found anywhere else.
“This research aims to be a source of information on the study of Nisi chickens so that the potential of Nisi chickens as a local chicken typical of Gorontalo can be brought to the public and recognized by the community,” said Alfi in front of the examiners.
According to Alfi, studies on native Indonesian chickens are crucial, given that the Nisi chicken represents an underexplored genetic resource. In conducting this research, Alfi acknowledged challenges, such as limited information on the species and the lack of published scientific literature on the species. Despite this, the Bau-Bau native stated that his research has the potential to yield excellent novelty value.
“The limited information available about this chicken makes this research crucial, as it can serve as a source of information to support research on the diversity of local chickens in Indonesia,” he said.
Meanwhile, the novelty value referred to is information in the form of documentation and analysis of study results as a description of the morphometric characteristics of this type of chicken species so that it is better known by the public, New information in the form of bioacoustic data that can be used as a source of information to recognize the nisi chicken based on the characteristics of its distinctive crowing pattern, and New information about the diversity of the IGF-1 gene possessed by the nisi chicken, so that it can be a reference and reference for further research on the nisi chicken species.
“The very limited information on Nisi chickens presents a unique challenge in conducting research sampling. Therefore, to avoid bias in the study’s variables, the Nisi chickens used for the study were raised independently for 12-24 months. The Nisi chickens used as samples were 10-12-month-old males.
Alfi said that his research has theoretical benefits in the field of biodiversity, namely as a contribution of information on one of the new genetic resources that has been successfully explored.
“By obtaining information about this Nisi chicken, the diversity of local chicken strains in Indonesia will also increase,” he added.
He further explained that his research utilized three approaches: morphometric, bioacoustic, and genetic analysis. Based on these three analyses, the operational objectives were to determine morphometric diversity and the most influential morphometric parameters. He also identified the bioacoustic pattern of the Nisi chicken’s crowing to identify and differentiate it from other local chickens. Furthermore, he noted that the diversity of the IGF-1 gene in the Nisi chicken provides information that can be used for future studies on the Nisi chicken.
Previously, the 36-year-old man had passed the pre-promotion exam stage on October 21, 2022. His success in pursuing education and research in this doctoral study program cannot be separated from the guidance of Prof. Dr. Drs. Abinawanto, M.Si. (Professor of Biology, FMIPA UI) as promoter and Dr. Mariah Ulfah, Spt., M.Sc.Agr. (Faculty of Animal Husbandry, IPB), and Astari Dwiranti, M.Eng., Ph.D. (Biology, FMIPA UI) as Co-Promoters.
