EChook News/ Microarray technology: chipping away at the mysteries of chicken genomics
From Poultry Hub
Microarray technology: chipping away at the mysteries of chicken genomics
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
A Poultry CRC post-doctoral scientist, Dr Tamsyn Crowley, is unearthing the potential of chicken genomics and the use of microarray technology as a tool in the fight against many poultry-related diseases such as Marek’s disease virus and avian influenza.
A microarray is a tool that allows exploration and discovery at a genomic level and can be used to examine tens of thousands of genes simultaneously on a single slide.
Based at CSIRO Livestock Industries in Geelong, Victoria, Tamsyn works in a team lead by CRC Project Leader, Dr Robert Moore, focussing on the application of genomic-based technology for the development of new poultry health products (Project 3.16a).
“Our laboratory is currently investigating chicken gene expression in response to a number of infectious agents including chicken anaemia virus, Marek’s disease virus, Mycoplasma and several gut related pathogens,” explains Tamsyn.
“We hope to gain a better understanding of the chicken’s response to pathogenic challenges, particularly the innate immune response and begin to enhance this response to a range of infectious diseases.”
“We are also searching for clues as to why chickens die from the H5N1 virus when other carriers, such as ducks, don’t.”
“The use of microarray technology combined with our access to the chicken genome may help us to answer some very fundamental questions about the health and productivity of chickens and other types of poultry.”
In 2004, the chicken was the first production animal to have its genome sequenced.
Tamsyn’s paper, ‘Microarrays: Chipping Away at the Mysteries of Chicken Genomics’, was presented at the 2006 Australian Poultry Science Symposium in Sydney and featured in the February/March issue of Poultry Digest.
For more information, contact Dr Robert Moore at CSIRO Livestock Industries on +61 3 5227 5760 or email Rob Moore
