Attempted induction of gynogenesis in chickens.

Dark Cornish and White Leghorn hens were divided into a virgin group and a group inseminated with semen that had been irradiated with 5,000r. of X rays. Two replicate trials were performed, one during winter and the second during summer. Two parthenogenetic embryos were found among 1,417 virgin eggs incubated for 24 hours. No other development was seen in eggs from this group. The three chicks produced by the inseminated group were not gynogenetic. Their heterozygous coloration showed them to be normal fertilization products. Fertility of 1,500 eggs was only about 5% and survival was almost nif for eggs from hens artificially inseminated with semen irradiated at 5,000 r. Most embryonic development consisted of membranous growth with occasional blood cells. The frequency of detectable embryonic development in abortive eggs was half as great after seven days incubation compared to the frequency after only 24 hours incubation.