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In this preliminary study, differentially expressed genes were investigated in cranial tissues from chickens with hereditary exencephaly using cDNA microarrays containing 1152 genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Genes showing twofold or greater differences at P < 0.05 between affected and normal cranial cells were considered to be candidates for hereditary exencephaly in chicken. Eighteen ESTs (11 known genes/homologues) were upregulated and 108 ESTs (51 known genes/homologues) were downregulated. The EST (ROS006C9), orthologous to human MTHFD1, a known candidate gene for human neural tube defects (NTDs), was expressed at the same level both in normal and affected chicken cranial tissues. ESTs (ROS006F7, thioredoxin reductase 1) and (ROS024H9, thioredoxin), both involved in NTD pathogenic pathways in mice, were downregulated and had mean ratios of 0.41 and 0.04 for expression in affected vs. normal cells respectively. Expression differences of these two ESTs were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. These data indicate that ESTs and are candidates for hereditary exencephaly in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the chromosomal localization of 15 large insert BAC clones containing three microsatellites on chicken chromosome 4 (GGA4) which refine its centromere position. Components of shell thickness quantitative trait loci; BAC clone isolation; Chromosome location.

Analyzes the result of the physical assignment of two chicken genes APOA1 and ETS1 to the same microchromosome. Primer pairs used to amplify the chicken genes; Chromosomal mapping.