The dynamic methylome of the broiler chicken as a resource for livestock performance biomarker development

The broiler chicken is the globally most important source of commercially produced meat. While genetic approaches have played an important role in the development of chicken stocks, little is known about chicken epigenetics. We have now systematically analyzed the chicken DNA methylation toolkit and DNA methylation landscape. While overall DNA methylation patterns were similar to mammals, sperm DNA appeared distinctly hypomethylated, which correlates with the absence of the DNMT3L cofactor in the chicken genome. Additional analysis also revealed the presence of low-methylated regions in the chicken methylome, which are conserved gene regulatory elements that show tissue-specific methylation patterns. We also used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to establish 56 single-base resolution methylomes of the broiler chicken from various tissues and developmental time points. Data analysis confirmed tissue-specific and time-dependent methylation patterns that were used to establish a DNA methylation clock to predict sample age and measure stock performance. Our study thus provides a comprehensive resource for the chicken methylome and establishes a novel epigenetic tool for livestock performance analysis. Whole genome methylation analysis of G. gallus. Four tissues were sequenced and analyzed, all at different time points after birth. For jejunum tissue healthy and inflamed subjects were used. All combinations of tissues and time points were analyzed using replicates.