Genotype-phenotype analyses continue to be the primary goal for genome analyses in livestock and poultry breeding. Essential to accomplish this goal is the need to identify variation at the genomic level. To test the hypothesis that DNA sequence variations in inflammatory response genes are associated with phenotypic differences in the heritage turkey, the primary objective of this project was to search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate inflammatory response genes. A minor objective was to develop a system for inducing inflammatory response in the turkey using a microbe-based lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an approach previously described for the chicken. A total of 18 SNPs was identified in the three genes screened in this project: Interleukin 6 (IL6) and 8 (IL8), and NLRX1. Mortality data from the LPS challenge were not significantly different among the strains. Further gene expression analyses will be part of future work. The SNP data represent the first extensive analyses of candidate inflammatory response genes in the turkey. Combined with the protocols developed for inflammation assessment in the turkey the SNPs described here will be valuable resources for future inflammation:genotype evaluation in the turkey / MS / Though progress has been made in the genome analyses of the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, our understanding of the genotype: phenotype relationships continue to lag those of agriculturally important animal species. Among the phenotypes for which genetic understanding can be useful is inflammation, a complex trait that is influence by many interdependent response mechanisms. These mechanisms, regarding differences across heritage turkeys, has been mildly investigated. Since Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) screening is a common method used to comprehend the robust effects these differences have on genotype and phenotype. Here, we report initial investigations in our lab of the genetics of inflammation in the turkey using comparative information from the chicken NOD like receptor X1 (NLRX1), turkey interleukin 6 (IL6), and Interleukin 8 (IL8). These genes were screened for nucleotide variants that may be informative for future studies that will investigate the turkey’s response to Salmonella derived lipopolysaccharide that can induce inflammation. The rationale for selecting these three genes is that IL8, IL6, and NLRX1 have pro inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory functions that respond to maintain homeostasis. Primers were designed and investigated using DNA from Broad Breasted White (BBW), and Broad Breasted Bronze (BBB), Blue slate (SL), Spanish Black (SBL), Midget White (MW) and Royal Palm (RP). The birds were also challenged with 1.5 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intra-abdominally to collect tissue post LPS challenge. Tissues was collected from the thymus, spleen, and bursa of fabricius: organs identified to effect inflammation. A total of 2,239 bp for IL8, 2,439 bp for IL 6, and 572 bp for NLRX1 were screened for SNPs. SNP analysis revealed 16 SNPs in the inflammatory response genes mentioned.