Study on the Intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypic and epigenetic effect of in ovo chicken embryo stimulation

When administered in ovo by a single injection, synbiotic and choline, both of which are bioactive substances, can stimulate embryonic development and produce a life-long impact on the phenotype of chicken (such as gut health, immune system, performance, mortality, and physiological traits). Therefore, these two substances can be considered as potential epigenetic factors of an embryonated egg. Epigenetic changes that were acquired in one generation, as a result of the in ovo impact on embryonic and long-term postembryonic development, can be permanently inherited and propagated in future generations. The aim of this project is to investigate the physiological relevance of intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance. At last, to identify the molecular mechanisms behind this type of information transfer by using a high-informative multi-omics approach.