SEGREGATION OF TWO ALLELES FOR COLOR OF DOWN IN PARTHENOGENETIC AND NORMAL TURKEY EMBRYOS AND POULTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Data were collected on the down color of 1,386 parthenogenetic embryos and poults from eggs of 306 young virgin and older nonmated bronze turkey hens. Each hen involved was heterozygous (Cc) for alleles which affect feather pigmentation. Six hundred and sixty nine white and 717 colored parthenogenetic embryos and poults were observed, a 1:1 ratio. Subsequently, 89 of these 306 heterozygous bronze hens were inseminated with semen from BSW (cc) males and down color of embryos and poults from fertilized eggs recorded. the 89 females produced a total of 233 white and 239 colored normal embryos and poults. The 1:1 ratio for down color among both parthenogenetic and normal embryos and poults shows that, in both instances, the two alleles at a locus on an autosome segregated equally. Four possible cytological routes which would lead to diploidy were discussed.