基因网络调控着鸡脂肪生成等复杂性状的生长发育过程，然而其结构和动态变化的调控机制很少有人研究。近期研究表明，长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）可以多层次多方位调控基因表达，从而影响基因网络的拓扑结构和动态变化。本项目将利用转录组测序（RNA-seq）和生物信息学分析，系统鉴定脂肪发育存在显著差异的肉鸡双向选择系中，与鸡脂肪生长发育相关的lncRNAs；利用公共数据库数据挖掘，预测脂肪生成相关lncRNAs的进化来源和功能；比较肉鸡生长早期各阶段的基因网络结构，筛选导致基因网络动态变化的lncRNAs；利用功能基因组学策略和方法，研究lncRNAs调控脂肪细胞分化的功能。通过这些研究，力图揭示影响鸡脂肪细胞分化和基因调控网络形成的lncRNAs的功能。

Gene networks regulate the development of complex traits, such as adipogenesis in chickens, however, the study on the regulatory mechanism of network structure and dynamics is still limited. Recently, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been proven to regulate gene expression at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, thus affecting the topological and dynamical changes of gene networks. To gain more knowledge and insight on how lncRNAs regulate gene networks for chicken adipogenesis, we are to systematically identify lncRNAs related to adipogenesis in chicken lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content, by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and Bioinformatics analyses; to predict the evolutionary origin and function of lncRNAs, obtained through mining public databases; to compare the topological structures of stage-specific gene networks, and screen out lncRNAs related to the structural changes of gene networks, in early growth stages of broilers; and to examine the molecular function of lncRNAs on how they affect adipocyte differentiation by functional genomics. Collectively, we will strive to understand how lncRNAs regulate the function of gene networks on chicken adipocyte differentiation.