Feather RNA: A Non-Invasive Approach for Transcriptomic Profiling in Live Chickens

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Genomics
• Transcriptomics

Background:

• Feather pulp contains living cells and is a promising source for non-invasive RNA extraction.
• Understanding gene expression in chickens is crucial for optimizing production and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of feather transcriptomics for detecting sex differences and gene responses to dietary lipid changes in chickens.
• To identify potential molecular markers associated with dietary treatments and sex-dependent responses.

Main Methods:

• Whole RNA-Seq analysis of feather pulp from male and female chickens fed low-lipid and high-lipid diets.
• Differential gene expression and functional enrichment analyses using DEseq2 and RaNA-Seq platforms.

Main Results:

• Three genes (PLA2G10, PLA2G4F, ENPP6) involved in lipid metabolism were upregulated in chickens fed a high-lipid diet.
• High-lipid diet altered lipid transport and PPAR signaling in roosters (APOA1, SLC27A4).
• Hens showed differential expression in apelin signaling, extracellular matrix, and cardiovascular pathways, with limited lipid metabolism involvement.

Conclusions:

• Feather pulp is a viable, minimally invasive source for transcriptomic analysis in live chickens.
• Feathers offer a practical and ethical tissue for nutrigenomic and genetic improvement studies.
• Sex-dependent transcriptional responses to dietary lipids were highlighted, supporting sustainable poultry production.