First Transcriptomic insight into the working muscles of racing pigeons during a competition flight
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ABSTRACT: The currently known homing pigeon is a result of a sharp one-sided selection for flight characteristics focused on speed, endurance, and spatial orientation. This has led to extremely well-adapted athletic phenotypes in racing birds. Here, we identify genes and pathways contributing to exercise adaptation in sport pigeons by applying next-generation transcriptome sequencing of m.pectoralis muscle samples, collected before and after a 300 km competition flight. The analysis of differentially expressed genes pictured the central role of pathways involved in fuel selection and muscle maintenance during flight, with a core set of genes: ARTN, NREP, CAV3, SLC25A30, SLC2A11. Variations in these genes may therefore be exploited for genetic improvement of the racing pigeon population towards specific categories of competition flights.
ORGANISM(S): Columba livia
PROVIDER: GSE222537 | GEO | 2023/01/15
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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