Fig. 4.

EDC genes are differentially expressed in the skin of different body sites of the European pond turtle. The expression of EDC genes was determined by RT-PCR in embryonic tissues of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). Intron-spanning primers were designed using the sequences of the EDC genes of Chrysemys picta and Chelonia mydas. The RT-PCR products were sequenced and their identity was determined by identifying the best sequence matches with EDC genes of C. picta (supplementary fig. S19, Supplementary Material online). Red asterisks mark transcripts that are predominantly expressed in the shell (carapace and/or plastron).