The Rainger research group uses gene-edited and transgenic chicken lines from the National Avian Research Facility (NARF, Roslin Institute) and has recently developed novel genetic resources in chicken embryos to further our understanding of tissue fusion mechanisms in the eye and other embryonic regions. Current projects involve the genetic disruption of the tissue fusion and axon guidance factor Netrin-1 through our germ-line knockout and GFP knock-in chicken lines, and the new development of other chicken lines to support research into other eye disorders (microphthalmia, anophthalmia, aniridia, cataracts). We use bulk and single-cell/nuclei sequencing technologies, proteomics, and spatial transcriptomics (RNAscope, Visium). In the wet lab, we are also focused on the WNT, integrin, cadherin and HGF pathways in a variety of developmental contexts, including tissue fusion. A stable NTN1 fluorescent reporter chicken reveals cell-specific molecular signatures during optic fissure closure. This article was published on 2025-08-06
