Transgenic quail to dynamically image amniote embryogenesis

Abstract

Embryogenesis is the coordinated assembly of tissues during morphogenesis by changes in individual cell behaviors and collective cell movements. Dynamic imaging, combined with quantitative analysis, are ideal for investigating fundamental questions in developmental biology involving cellular differ­entiation, growth control, and morphogenesis. However, a reliable amniote model system amenable to the rigors of extended, high resolution imaging and cell tracking has been lacking. To address this shortcoming, we produced a novel transgenic quail that ubiquitously expresses nuclear localized monomer cherry fluorescent protein (chFP). We characterize the expression pattern of the chFP and provide concrete examples of how Tg(PGK1:H2B-chFP) quail can be used to dynamically image and analyze key morphogenetic events during embryonic stages X to 11.