We demonstrated that stage-specific transient agonism of sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway signalling in chicken triggers a complete and permanent transition from reticulate scales to feathers on the ventral surfaces of the foot and digits. Resulting feathers are developmentally comparable to feathers adorning the body, with down-type feathers transitioning into regenerative, bilaterally symmetric contour feathers in adult chickens. Our RNA-sequencing analyses confirm that SAG treatment specifically promotes the expression of key Shh pathway-associated genes.
Transient agonism of the sonic hedgehog pathway triggers a permanent transition of skin appendage fate in the chicken embryo
Rory L. Cooper and Michel C. Milinkovitch
Science Advances 9, 20 (2023)
Protocol for the rapid intravenous in ovo injection of developing amniote embryos
Cooper RL, Santos-Durán G, Milinkovitch MC
STAR protocols 4, 2 (2023)