First transcriptomic insight into the working muscles of racing pigeons during a competition flight.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The currently known homing pigeon is a result of a sharp one-sided selection for flight characteristics focused on speed, endurance, and spatial orientation. This has led to extremely well-adapted athletic phenotypes in racing birds.

Methods

Here, we identify genes and pathways contributing to exercise adaptation in sport pigeons by applying next-generation transcriptome sequencing of m.pectoralis muscle samples, collected before and after a 300 km competition flight.

Results

The analysis of differentially expressed genes pictured the central role of pathways involved in fuel selection and muscle maintenance during flight, with a set of genes, in which variations may therefore be exploited for genetic improvement of the racing pigeon population towards spec

SUBMITTER: Stefaniuk-Szmukier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11078782 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature