Muscle transcriptomics of thermal manipulation in chickens

Thermal manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis has been proposed as a developmental programming strategy to enhance thermotolerance in poultry, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of heat stress (HS) on growth, metabolism, and welfare. Transcriptomic profiling provides a powerful framework to investigate how TM reshapes gene regulatory networks across tissues and developmental stages. In this project, we examine the impact of embryonic TM on skeletal muscle transcriptional trajectories under both acute and chronic heat stress conditions, using a two-factorial experimental design that accounts for embryonic thermal manipulation and post-hatch thermal challenge. By comparing basal, acute HS, and chronic HS responses, this study explores how early-life temperature modulation alters molecular stress responses. Elucidating these mechanisms advances our understanding of avian thermal adaptation and supports the development of heat-resilient poultry production strategies under increasing climate stress.