College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

Emu eggs shine at Easter Bush Open Day

Eggs from emus and chickens are helping scientists to understand how genes can go wrong and cause birth defects.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute are using the eggs to investigate how genes control the way our bodies grow and develop. Their findings could even hold clues about the causes of cancer.

The team will be showcasing their research at the Easter Bush Campus Open Day as part of the Midlothian Science Festival.

Genetic mutations

The researchers have found that the genetic mutations responsible for causing extra fingers to form in chickens are similar to those found in people. Having extra digits is called polydactyly and it is the most common defect that babies are born with.

Fingers and toes

They have discovered that one gene, called Sonic Hedgehog, is key to ensuring that our fingers and toes develop in the right place. The mechanism works the same way in all animals with fingers and toes, including birds.

By looking at naturally occurring chicken mutants that have too many fingers and toes, scientists can work out how the gene is controlled and what happens when it goes wrong.

Emu insights

The team also use emus, which have just one finger. They have found that this is because they have very little of the Sonic Hedgehog gene switched on during development.

Sonic Hedgehog has also been linked to some types of cancer. Understanding how it is controlled could hold clues to new treatments.

Chicken eggs have been used for years to investigate how embryos grow because they develop outside of the mother so it is easy to see what is going on. Rather than putting all our eggs in one basket, studying different types of birds gives us a deeper understanding of how our genes build bodies.

Dr Megan DaveyThe Roslin Institute

Easter Bush Campus Open Day

The Easter Bush Campus Open Day is on Saturday 4 October and is part of the Midlothian Science Festival. Visitors will be able to see behind the scenes at The Roslin Institute, Scotland’s Rural College and the Teaching Building of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

Midlothian Science Festival

More than 100 events are taking place between 4 and 19 October for the 2014 Midlothian Science Festival, showcasing the fascinating, funny and sometimes bizarre nature of science.