Epidermal-dermal recombinations with embryonic naked and normal back skin of Gallus domesticus.

Birds exhibiting a varying featherless condition resulting from the recessive sex-linked gene naked (n) were used to investigate whether the gene altered the dermis or the epidermis. By splitting 7-day normal and naked skin into its dermal and epidermal components, and heterotypically recombining and growing it in chambers on the chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM), it was found that the epidermis of the naked birds is the site of mutant gene action. A histological study of developing normal and naked skin was done and the structure of the naked feather is elucidated.