Interspecific germline transmission of cultured primordial germ cells.

In birds, the primordial germ cell (PGC) lineage separates from the soma within 24 h following fertilization. Here we show that the endogenous population of about 200 PGCs from a single chicken embryo can be expanded one million fold in culture. When cultured PGCs are injected into a xenogeneic embryo at an equivalent stage of development, they colonize the testis. At sexual maturity, these donor PGCs undergo spermatogenesis in the xenogeneic host and become functional sperm. Insemination of semen from the xenogeneic host into females from the donor species produces normal offspring from the donor species. In our model system, the donor species is chicken (Gallus domesticus) and the recipient species is guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), a member of a different avian family, suggesting that the mechanisms controlling proliferation of the germline are highly conserved within birds. From a pragmatic perspective, these data are the basis of a novel strategy to produce endangered species of birds using domesticated hosts that are both tractable and fecund.

Efficiency of one- and two-stage selection indexes for improvement of net economic merit in White Leghorns.

The effects of varying intensities of selection at first and second stages, for a given final intensity, on the efficiency of two-stage index selection are described. Data collected on four White Leghorn strains for part and residual egg number, body weights at 20 and 40 weeks and egg weight at 39 to 40 weeks were utilised. Four of the five traits were used in the first stage and all five traits were used in the second stage for the construction of two-stage selection indexes. The index that utilised all five traits had the maximum efficiency for one-stage selection. The relative efficiency of the two-stage index increased with increase in proportion selected at the first stage. A practical breeding schedule that adds the advantage of reduced generation interval by utilising a two-stage index selection is suggested for egg type chickens.