Avian Genomics in Evolution, Agriculture and Health: Reprint of: Cytogenetic and Genome Research 2007, Vol. 117, No. 1-4

This special issue highlights current research in avian genomics. Most contributions relate to the chicken as the model bird species, but advances in the genomics of turkey, duck and other birds are also presented. With a mixture of review articles and original research papers, this publication illustrates how advances in avian genomics have impacted on a wide range of disciplines such as cytogenetics, genetics, immunology, evolution and development. The many resources that are now available to researchers are also described. The knowledge gained from the avian genomes is not just applicable to bird species but offers a useful comparative tool that helps further research across many species. The study of the avian genomes is also shown to play an important role in the fields of agriculture and human health, e.g. in respect to avian influenza. Well edited and up-to-date, this issue is recommended reading to scientists working in any of the above-mentioned fields of avian research.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Avian genomics in the 21st century: Burt, D.W.; White, S.J.; Resources; The chicken RH map: current state of progress and microchromosome mapping: Morisson, M. et al.; A high-resolution linkage map for the Z chromosome in chicken reveals hot spots for recombination: Wahlberg, P. et al.; Cytogenetics; Chromosome repatterning in three representative parrots (Psittaciformes) inferred from comparative chromosome painting: Nanda, I. et al.; Chromosomal mapping of chicken mega-telomere arrays to GGA9, 16, 28 and W using a cytogenomic approach: Delany, M.E. et al.; Evolution; Conserved synteny of mammalian imprinted genes in chicken, frog, and fish genomes: Dunzinger, U. et al.; ZP genes in avian species illustrate the dynamic evolution of the vertebrate egg envelope: Hughes, D.C.; Different origins of bird and reptile sex chromosomes inferred from comparative mapping of chicken Z-linked genes: Kawai, A. et al.; A new look at the evolution of avian sex chromsomes: Stiglec, R.; Ezaz, T.; Graves, J.A.M.; Gene Expression; Global gene expression profile after Salmonella enterica Serovar enteritidis challenge in two F8 advanced intercross chicken lines: Zhou, H.; Lamont, S.J.; A functional genomics approach to the study of avian innate immunity: Keeler, C.L., Jr. et al.; Evolutionary conservation of alternative splicing in chicken: Katyal, S. et al.; Immunology; Biotechnology and the chicken B cell line DT40: Bachl, J. et al.; Genomics of antiviral defenses in the duck, a natural host of influenza and hepatitis B viruses: MacDonald, M.R.W. et al.; Avian genomics and the innate immune response to viruses: Jenkins, K.A. et al.; Development; The chicken as a model for embryonic development: Davey, M.G.; Tickle, C.; Potential application of sperm bearing female-specific chromosome in chickens: Shimada, K. et al.; Sequence Analysis; Characterising alternate splicing and tissue specific expression in the chicken from ESTs: Tang, H. et al.; Quantitative Trait Loci and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism; Identification of quantitative trait loci affecting shank length, body weight and carcass weight from the Japanese cockfighting chicken breed, Oh-Shamo (Japanese Large Game): Tsudzuki, M. et al.; Quantitative trait loci for bone traits segregating independently of those for growth in an F2 broiler x layer cross: Sharman, P.W.A. et al.; Parent-of-origin specific QTL - a possibility towards understanding reciprocal effects in chicken and the origin of imprinting: Tuiskula-Haavisto, M. et al.; Genes and Longevity; Fanconi anemia: genetic analysis of a human disease using chicken system: Takata, M. et al.; Neuroendocrine and immune characteristics of aging in avian species: Ottinger, M.A.; Lavoie, E.; Proteomics; Avian proteomics: advances, challenges and new technologies: Doherty, M.K. et al.; Avian Viruses; Polymorphisms of the chicken antiviral MX gene: Watanabe, T.