Project description:The genetic and developmental mechanisms that control the decision between scale and feather growth â two profoundly different epidermal appendages, and an important developmental shift in the evolution of birds from their dinosaurian ancestors â remain poorly understood. Domestic pigeons display dramatic variation in foot epidermal appendages within a single species, and classical studies suggest that a small number of genes control much of this variation; thus pigeons provide a tractable model to understand skin appendage specification and variation. Here we show that feathered feet in pigeons are the consequence of a partial transformation of limb-type identity mediated by cis-regulatory changes in the hindlimb-specific transcription factor Pitx1 and forelimb-specific transcription factor Tbx5. We also demonstrate that ectopic hindlimb expression of Tbx5 is associated with the development of foot feathers in domestic chickens, suggesting that similar developmental mechanisms underlie phenotypic convergence in avian lineages that diverged over 100 MYA. These results show how qualitative and quantitative changes in expression of regional patterning genes can generate localized changes in organ fate and morphology, and provide a viable molecular mechanism for the evolution of hindlimb scale and feather distribution in dromaeosaurs. Examination of H3K27ac status in embryonic limb buds from two domestic pigeon breeds, racing homer and Indian fantail
Project description:In feather-footed pigeons, mutant alleles of PITX1 and TBX5 drive the partial redeployment of an evolutionarily conserved forelimb genetic program in the hindlimb.
Project description:To understand the molecular basis of distinct pork quality in Chinese indigenous and Western breed, longissimus dorsi samples were collected from three adult Northeastern Indigenous and from three adult Large White. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to porcine Affymetrix Genechip. The study helps to elucidate the genetic mechnism of divergent pork quality and provide the theory basis for selection and genetic improvement of meat quality traits in porcine. Six longissimus dorsi samples were collected from three Northeastern Indigenous and from three Large White. Three Large White were control samples. Total RNA was extracted from each sample.Gene-expression profiling was performed for each RNA sample separately on the GeneChip® Porcine Genome Array at CapitalBio Corporation (Beijing, China).
Project description:To understand the molecular basis of distinct pork quality in Chinese indigenous and Western breed, longissimus dorsi samples were collected from three adult Northeastern Indigenous and from three adult Large White. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to porcine Affymetrix Genechip. The study helps to elucidate the genetic mechnism of divergent pork quality and provide the theory basis for selection and genetic improvement of meat quality traits in porcine.
Project description:The genetic and developmental mechanisms that control the decision between scale and feather growth – two profoundly different epidermal appendages, and an important developmental shift in the evolution of birds from their dinosaurian ancestors – remain poorly understood. Domestic pigeons display dramatic variation in foot epidermal appendages within a single species, and classical studies suggest that a small number of genes control much of this variation; thus pigeons provide a tractable model to understand skin appendage specification and variation. Here we show that feathered feet in pigeons are the consequence of a partial transformation of limb-type identity mediated by cis-regulatory changes in the hindlimb-specific transcription factor Pitx1 and forelimb-specific transcription factor Tbx5. We also demonstrate that ectopic hindlimb expression of Tbx5 is associated with the development of foot feathers in domestic chickens, suggesting that similar developmental mechanisms underlie phenotypic convergence in avian lineages that diverged over 100 MYA. These results show how qualitative and quantitative changes in expression of regional patterning genes can generate localized changes in organ fate and morphology, and provide a viable molecular mechanism for the evolution of hindlimb scale and feather distribution in dromaeosaurs.
2016-04-03 | GSE67875 | GEO
Project description:Genetic basis of iris pigmentation in pigeons
Project description:To evaluate the lncRNAs and mRNAs in ovaries associated with egg production performance in domestic pigeons, high-throughput RNA sequencing of ovaries between high and low egg production performance groups were performed and analyzed in this study.