Dynamic changes in the global microRNAome and transcriptome associated with ovarian development in chickens

Efficient ovarian development and ovulation is necessary for egg production in the poultry industry. To better understand the regulation of ovarian development, a systematic profiling of miRNAs and mRNAs from ovary at four key stages of development (at ages of 60 days, 100 days, 140 days-not yet laying eggs and 140 days-just starting to lay eggs) were performed. Some differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at four stages were identified.