Live Detection of the Firefly Luciferase Gene Expression by Bioluminescence in Incubating Chicken Embryos

Abstract

By using in ovo electroporation, the firefly luciferase gene was transfected to living chicken embryos at 2 days of incubation. At 48hrs after transfection, expression of the firefly luciferase gene was monitored in ovo by using a single photon imaging counter. Strong bioluminescence detected from the incubating embryo suggests that in ovo electroporation would provide a useful and efficient nonviral means of foreign gene transfection to somatic cells of living chicken embryos.