Targeted Gene Insertion on Chicken Genome by Programmable Genome Editing Mediated DNA Cleavage

Genetically modified animals have numerous benefits in agriculture, medicine and basic science research. Especially, chickens has been considered valuable resources as a model organism in developmental biology and applications in industry. Despite of the rapid development in genome editing technologies, limited utilizations of avian model have been reported due to the lack of efficient tools for genetic modification of the avian genome. Here, we performed targeted gene insertion mediated by programmable genome editing (PGE) tools that can induce DNA cleavage on targeted locus of chicken genome. As a result, the designed nucleases sufficiently modified the targeted locus on the chicken genome and introduced exogenous gene cassettes. The results suggest that targeted genome modification mediated by programmable genome editing tools can be applied to chicken genome, and precise gene insertion on targeted locus can be introduced by enhanced DNA cleavage event. In conclusion, the results are expected to be applied in various research areas, especially in establishment of novel avian model.