The most delicious-looking broiler chicken could consist of hard, chewy meat. The problem plagues the poultry industry, but researchers have found the cause and mapped a solution. Gene expression irregularities at the onset of ‘wooden breast syndrome’ suggest the disease is a metabolic disorder. The findings could lead to short-term solutions that help growers manage the condition in chickens during production and may inform human health research related to metabolic syndromes, such as diabetes.