Research using avian embryos has led to major conceptual advances in developmental biology, virology, immunology, genetics and cell biology. The avian embryo has several significant advantages, including ready availability and ease of accessibility, rapid development with marked similarities to mammals and a high amenability to manipulation. As mechanical forces are increasingly recognised as key drivers of morphogenesis, this powerful model system is shedding new light on the mechanobiology of embryonic development. Here, we highlight progress in understanding how mechanical forces direct key morphogenetic processes in the early avian embryo. Recent advances in quantitative live imaging and modelling are elaborating upon traditional work using physical models and embryo manipulations to reveal cell dynamics and tissue forces in ever greater detail. The recent application of transgenic technologies further increases the strength of the avian model and is providing important insights about previously intractable developmental processes.

使用鸟类胚胎的研究在发育生物学、病毒学、免疫学、遗传学和细胞生物学方面取得了重大的概念进展。禽类胚胎有几个显着的优势，包括容易获得和易于获得、与哺乳动物有显着相似性的快速发育和高度易于操作。随着机械力越来越被认为是形态发生的关键驱动力，这个强大的模型系统正在为胚胎发育的机械生物学提供新的视角。在这里，我们强调在理解机械力如何指导早期鸟类胚胎中的关键形态发生过程方面取得的进展。定量实时成像和建模的最新进展正在使用物理模型和胚胎操作来详细阐述传统工作，以更详细地揭示细胞动力学和组织力。最近转基因技术的应用进一步增强了鸟类模型的强度，并为以前难以处理的发育过程提供了重要的见解。