Andermatt Irwin, Stoeckli Esther T
Institute of Molecular Life Sciences and Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Methods Mol Biol. 2014;1082:253-66. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-655-9_17.
The mouse is the most commonly used vertebrate model for the analysis of gene function because of the well-established genetic tools that are available for loss-of-function studies. However, studies of gene function during development can be problematic in mammals. Many genes are active during different stages of development. Absence of gene function during early development may cause embryonic lethality and thus prevent analysis of later stages of development. To avoid these problems, precise temporal control of gene silencing is required. In contrast to mammals, oviparous animals are accessible for experimental manipulations during embryonic development. The combination of accessibility and RNAi-based gene silencing makes the chicken embryo a powerful model for developmental studies. Depending on the time window during which gene silencing is attempted, chicken embryos can be used for RNAi in ovo or cultured in a domed dish for easier access during ex ovo RNAi. Both techniques allow for precise temporal control of gene silencing during embryonic development.
由于有完善的基因工具可用于功能缺失研究，小鼠是分析基因功能最常用的脊椎动物模型。然而，在哺乳动物中研究发育过程中的基因功能可能存在问题。许多基因在发育的不同阶段都有活性。早期发育过程中基因功能的缺失可能导致胚胎致死，从而妨碍对后期发育阶段的分析。为避免这些问题，需要对基因沉默进行精确的时间控制。与哺乳动物不同，卵生动物在胚胎发育期间便于进行实验操作。可操作性与基于RNA干扰的基因沉默相结合，使得鸡胚成为发育研究的有力模型。根据尝试进行基因沉默的时间窗口，鸡胚可用于卵内RNA干扰，或在圆顶培养皿中培养以便在卵外RNA干扰期间更便于操作。这两种技术都能在胚胎发育期间对基因沉默进行精确的时间控制。
