Project description:In the present study, we were interested in gene expression changes in the pectoralis muscle of juvenile king penguins during the transition from terrestrial to marine life. Strictly terrestrial during their first year after hatching, king penguin chicks must then depart to sea to reach nutritional emancipation and pectoralis muscle is largely involved in penguin adaptation to the marine environment. To compare these transcriptomic profiles, we realized heterologous hybridization on Affymetrix GeneChip Chicken Genome Arrays, as the chicken is the closest model species for which microarrays are available. The development of a new algorithm, MaxRS, allow us to determine differentially expressed genes implicated in energetic metabolism or involved in cellular defense against reactive oxygen species and associated injuries. We compared muscle sample biopsy from 4 penguin juveniles captured just before they undergone their first immersion to cold water (named NI for Never Immersed) and 3 penguin juveniles that had completly accomplished their acclimation to marine life (named SA for Sea Acclimated).
Project description:In the present study, we were interested in gene expression changes in the pectoralis muscle of juvenile king penguins during the transition from terrestrial to marine life. Strictly terrestrial during their first year after hatching, king penguin chicks must then depart to sea to reach nutritional emancipation and pectoralis muscle is largely involved in penguin adaptation to the marine environment. To compare these transcriptomic profiles, we realized heterologous hybridization on Affymetrix GeneChip Chicken Genome Arrays, as the chicken is the closest model species for which microarrays are available. The development of a new algorithm, MaxRS, allow us to determine differentially expressed genes implicated in energetic metabolism or involved in cellular defense against reactive oxygen species and associated injuries. Data from NI and SA penguin juveniles are already on GEO n°GSE17725
Project description:In the present study, we were interested in gene expression changes in the pectoralis muscle of juvenile king penguins during the transition from terrestrial to marine life. Strictly terrestrial during their first year after hatching, king penguin chicks must then depart to sea to reach nutritional emancipation and pectoralis muscle is largely involved in penguin adaptation to the marine environment. To compare these transcriptomic profiles, we realized heterologous hybridization on Affymetrix GeneChip Chicken Genome Arrays, as the chicken is the closest model species for which microarrays are available. The development of a new algorithm, MaxRS, allow us to determine differentially expressed genes implicated in energetic metabolism or involved in cellular defense against reactive oxygen species and associated injuries.
Project description:Persistent organic chemicals are non-biodegradable in nature and have a tendency to bioaccumulate in the top organisms of the food chain. We measured persistent organic chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and benzotriazole-based ultraviolet stabilizers (UV-BTs), in the serum of captive king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector and mass spectrometry to examine their age-related accumulation. PCBs, DDE, UV-PS, and UV-9 were detected in the blood of captive king penguins, and the concentrations of total PCBs, DDE, and UV-9 were positively correlated with age. These results suggest that there is a similar age-related accumulation of persistent organic chemicals in marine birds in the wild, and that older individuals are at a higher risk of contamination.
Project description:Wooden Breast (WB) is a novel myopathy affecting the pectoralis major muscle of modern broiler chickens. We selected pectoralis fillet samples, a normal(healthy) fillet and a WB fillet.
