Chicken dapper genes are versatile markers for mesodermal tissues, embryonic muscle stem cells, neural crest cells, and neurogenic placodes.

Dapper (Dpr) proteins are context-dependent regulators of Wnt and Tgfbeta signaling. However, although inroads into their molecular properties have been made, their expression and biological function are not understood. Searching for avian Dpr genes, we found that the chicken harbors a Dpr1 and a Dpr2 paralogue only.