Derivation of embryonic stem cells across avian species
MainAvians, especially chickens, are crucial model organisms in developmental biology, virology, immunology, epigenetics, conservation biology and genomics related to domestication1,2,3. Moreover, the chicken model organism has enhanced our understanding of human diseases4. However, due to the lack of genetic tools in avians, the use of this species in research has been greatly limited.
Embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from mice and rats can be maintained in culture indefinitely while retaining the ability to contribute to chimera formation and transmit through the germline5,6,7,8. This property has enabled us to generate numerous genetically modified...