Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 318-325 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 318 Research Insight Open Access Identifying Key Genes for Muscle Development in Broilers through Gene Expression Analysis Jing He, Jun Li Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: jun.li@cuixi.org Animal Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0033 Received: 09 Aug., 2024 Accepted: 15 Sep., 2024 Published: 28 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 He and Li, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: He J., and Li J., 2024, Identifying key genes for muscle development in broilers through gene expression analysis, Animal Molecular Breeding, 14(5): 318-325 (doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0033) Abstract This study reviews gene expression analysis techniques, including RNA sequencing and microarray analysis, to explore the molecular mechanisms of muscle development in broiler chickens. Using bioinformatics tools, several key genes regulating muscle development, growth factors, and hormone signals at different stages of muscle formation were identified, revealing their roles in promoting muscle fiber development and their potential applications in selective breeding. This study aims to provide insights into the genetic regulation of muscle traits in broiler chickens, provide opportunities for targeted gene manipulation to improve muscle yield, and offer future research directions. Keywords Broiler muscle development; Gene expression analysis; Myogenesis; Selective breeding; RNA sequencing 1 Introduction Muscle development in broilers is a complex process influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. The growth pattern, particularly during the early stages, significantly impacts the overall muscle mass and quality, which are critical for the poultry industry's profitability. Broilers are selectively bred for rapid growth and high feed efficiency, leading to enhanced muscle development, especially in the breast and leg muscles (Davis et al., 2015; Wu et al., 2020). Understanding the genetic basis of muscle development is essential for improving growth performance and meat quality in broilers. Identifying key genes involved in muscle growth can provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms that control muscle development and differentiation. This knowledge can be applied to optimize breeding programs, enhance feed efficiency, and ultimately increase the economic value of broilers (Bottje et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2019; Kanakachari et al., 2022). Moreover, it can help in identifying genetic markers for selective breeding, leading to the development of broiler lines with superior growth traits (Lassiter et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2021b). Gene expression analysis aims to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that play crucial roles in muscle development. By comparing the transcriptomes of broilers at various developmental stages or under different growth conditions, researchers can pinpoint specific genes and pathways that are upregulated or downregulated during muscle growth. This approach helps in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle development and identifying potential targets for genetic improvement (Xue et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2022). Additionally, it provides a comprehensive view of the regulatory networks and signaling pathways involved in muscle growth (Wang et al., 2020). This study provides an overview of key genes and pathways involved in the development of broiler muscle, introduces RNA sequencing and other molecular technologies, transcriptomes of broiler muscle tissue at different developmental stages and growth conditions, and identifies differentially expressed genes and their related pathways. These genes and pathways are crucial for muscle growth and development, and this study aims to better understand the genetic and molecular basis of broiler muscle development, providing valuable information for improving growth performance and meat quality in the poultry industry.
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