Screening of differentially expressed genes in the growth plate of broiler chickens with tibial dyschondroplasia by microarray analysis.

Background: Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a common skeletal disorder in broiler chickens. It is characterized by the presence of a non-vascularized and unmineralized cartilage in the growth plate. Previous studies have investigated differential expression of genes related to cartilage development during latter stages of TD.