Cytogenetic Studies of Embryos Developing Parthenogenetically in Turkeys

INTRODUCTION Unsuspected development in turkey eggs was observed by Olsen and Marsden (1953) during a study of infertility in turkeys. Beltsville Small White turkey females had been separated from males, and the eggs were incubated for ten days then checked to insure that no fertile eggs were being produced. During a period between 60 to 224 days following the removal of males, incubated eggs continued to show that development was still occurring in some of the eggs. A program of selection to intensify this condition was initiated. The unsuspected development was considered to be parthenogenetic, and the selection effort resulted in an increase from 16.7% in 1952 to 45% in 1963 (Olsen, 1965). Furthermore, in 1962, 13% of the eggs incubated contained embryos and 8.8% of these embryos developed to hatching (Olsen, 1965). All embryos reaching hatching age were males (Poole and Olsen, 1957). A separate attempt to increase the . . .