The advent of iPSCs has greatly advanced the fields of degenerative biology, disease capabilities, and regenerative medicine. iPSCs are a new and compelling model system for studying biological processes, as well as evaluating novel therapeutic interventions. The concept of iPSCs was created in 2006 by Takahashi and Yamanaka, reprogramming mouse fibroblasts with the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc OSKM. Similar to ESCs, iPSCs can self-renew and differentiate into all types of cells. This approach has since been applied to the avian species (e.g., chickens), allowing new opportunities for scientific investigation. Thus, the chicken model organism fills the important gap between mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrates. The relatively short life cycle of the chicken model organism, alongside well-characterized genetics, makes it a perfect candidate for stem cell studies. With advancements in the technology behind avian iPSCs, it is now possible to generate pluripotent cells with high production rates. This allows new perspectives regarding germline transmission, tissue differentiation, and genetic trait improvement. This review summarizes the major advances made in the generation of chicken iPSCs using novel reprogramming techniques and the identification of species-specific transcription factors important for maintaining pluripotency. The applications of avian iPSCs in genetic engineering studies, disease resistance, and avian conservation are also discussed. This review will also indicate how the use of iPSCs in poultry biotechnology can further improve meat and egg production. Finally, the review discusses current challenges, such as incomplete understanding of the avian reprogramming environment and epigenetic modifications, and suggests future directions for refining the iPSC technology in avian mode.
