Correction: Corrigendum: A genome-wide search for epigenetically regulated genes in zebra finch using MethylCap-seq and RNA-seq

Abstract

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 20957; published online: 11 February 2016; updated: 17 March 2016 The original version of this Article contained an error in the title of the paper, where the word “epigenetically” was incorrectly given as “eigenetically”. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Beyond the Chicken: Alternative Avian Models for Developmental Physiological Research

“…For example, a newly hatched emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae ) or ostrich ( Struthio camelus ) is nearly the size of a juvenile or adult chicken, respectively. This single property—extraordinary size—has allowed “keyhole surgery” through an opening in the egg for investigating embryonic physiology and the transitions associated with the onset of pulmonary respiration (Steyaert et al, 2016 ). Thus, experiments have been conducted on late incubation emu eggs, whereby major embryonic vessels are chronically cannulated for blood pressure measurement and microsphere injection to determine intra- and extracardiac shunts (Steyaert et al, 2016 ).…”

“…This single property—extraordinary size—has allowed “keyhole surgery” through an opening in the egg for investigating embryonic physiology and the transitions associated with the onset of pulmonary respiration (Steyaert et al, 2016 ). Thus, experiments have been conducted on late incubation emu eggs, whereby major embryonic vessels are chronically cannulated for blood pressure measurement and microsphere injection to determine intra- and extracardiac shunts (Steyaert et al, 2016 ). The size of the emu egg overall also allows the air cell to be cannulated and through-flow ventilated with experimental gases, thus controlling the internal egg environment when the embryo internally pips and takes its first breath.…”

“…The large size of ratite embryos also makes for more tractable in vitro perfusion of the central vasculature in, for example, studies of their physiological and pharmacological properties as embryos. This especially the case for relatively small structures that nonetheless are of great physiological significance, such as the ductus arteriosus (Lewis et al, 2013 ; Steyaert et al, 2016 ; Jimeno et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Additionally, zebra finches and other passerines have been featured in ecotoxicological studies (Lewis et al, 2013 ; Caudill et al, 2015 ; Whitney and Cristol, 2018 ). One of the newer fronts that has opened up in songbird animal models is that of the transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of learned behaviors, especially vocalizations, and the underlying molecular mechanisms (Steyaert et al, 2016 ; Kelly et al, 2018 ; Jimeno et al, 2019 ). The advantage of zebra finches and other similar passerines used as animal models in such epigenetic studies is not so much that they reach sexually maturity rapidly (not compared to the king quail, for example—see above), but rather because the animal husbandry of small passerines across multiple generations is less complex, costly, and space-consuming than for other avian models.…”