Using Antisense Morpholino Oligos to Knockdown Gene Expression in the Chicken Embryo

Abstract

Morpholinos are synthetic DNA analogs that are not degraded by nucleases. A technique has been developed for the microinjection and square-pulse electroporation of antisense morpholinos into the precursors of neural crest cells in the chicken embryo in ovo. This paper reviews the methods used for the introduction of morpholinos into the chicken embryo as well as how to analyze their effects on gene expression and morphogenesis.