New analysis of the avian inbreeding depression phenomenon using a technique of chimera production

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660262
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Integrative animal science
• Research Institution: National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Principal Investigator: Kawashima Takaharu 国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 生物・生態系環境研究センター, 主任研究員 (90360362)
• Research Collaborator: Nagino Koki 早稲田大学, 大学院・先進理工学研究科・生命理工学専攻
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 近交退化 / キメラ / ウズラ / 鳥類

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we attempted to propose a new experimental system for analyzing disorders caused by inbreeding by using Japanese quail as a model organism, in which the inbreeding depression phenomenon appears conspicuously. Strong inbreeding to the long-term closed colony of Japanese quails (NIES-L strain) resulted in delayed embryonic development and decreased hatching rate. In addition, the number of aggressive behaviors of males of NIES-L quail was significantly lower than that of other strains. We succeeded in visualizing the contribution of biologically labeled inbred quail cells to embryos by producing inbred-hybrid blastoderm chimeras. In the future, it is expected to investigate the causes of embryonic death and embryonic development abnormality by inbreeding.

Free Research Field

鳥類発生工学