Avian Resources
The NARF maintains a number of poultry lines that are held in our conventional and specified pathogen free (SPF) facilities.
- The NARF has genome engineering technologies for the chicken, and maintains a large number of genetically altered chicken lines, chicken lines with specific genetic variants and with well-characterised genomes.
- Poultry lines available include commercially relevant layer and broiler breeds and Japanese quail.
- Our SPF unit has nine inbred white Leghorn lines and two closed outbred lines, that vary in their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes.
Genetically altered lines
![](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/purpose_and_overview_pic.jpg?itok=5Xs7Mb3z)
The NARF has gene editing facilities for the chicken, a variety of ubiquitous and gene-specific reporter lines.
Poultry lines
![Chicken](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/chicken3a900x400.jpg?itok=9SNPA7E9)
The NARF has a number of poultry lines available including layer and broiler breeds and Japanese quail.
Specified Pathogen Free Facility
![Gene-edited chickens that don't lay own eggs](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/credit_norrie_russell_roslin_institute_900x400.jpg?itok=5KdicMyo)
The NARF has a custom built facility that houses poultry under specified pathogen free (SPF) status.