Expression data from embryonic chicken feather and scale skins

Epithelial appendages are the product of epithelial mesenchymal interactions. Tissue recombination experiments showed that in general, the dermis determines the phenotype of the epithelial appendage. Chicken dorsal skin epithelium interacts with its underlying mesenchyme to form feathers beginning at E7 (H&H stage 31), while metatarsal scale epithelium interacts with its mesenchyme to form scales beginning at E9 (H&H stage 35) which stabilize around E12 (H&H stage 38).

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Chang KW, Huang NA, Liu IH, Wang YH, Wu P, Tseng YT, Hughes MW, Jiang TX, Tsai MH, Chen CY, Oyang YJ, Lin EC, Chuong CM, Lin SP