North Carolina State University

Samuel Lloyd Pardue

James N Petitte

Susan D'Costa

Yonghong Song

Methods for modulating primordial germ cell (PGC) numbers and/or development in avians are provided. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed subject matter provides a method for modulating primordial germ cells numbers in an avian embryo comprising immunizing a female bird with an antigen associated with primordial germ cells, whereby an egg produced by the female bird comprises a sufficiently high concentration of antibodies specific for the antigen to modulate numbers of endogenous PGCs in an avian embryo present within in the egg. Also provided are methods for producing chimeric avians, methods for increasing the proportion of male birds in a plurality of eggs, methods of producing avian gametes, and methods for enhancing germ line transmission of nucleic acids in birds.

Depletion of endogenous primordial germ cells in avian species

The present invention provides methods for the production of avian gametes, comprising reducing endogenous primordial germ cells (PGCs) in a recipient bird in ovo and introducing donor primordial germ cells from another bird into the recipient bird in ovo. The present invention further provides a method of increasing the ratio of male offspring from a female bird, comprising reducing endogenous PGCs in the female bird in ovo, introducing donor PGCs from another bird into the female bird in ovo, and incubating the female bird to hatch. The female bird is raised to sexual maturity and bred to produce a plurality of eggs having a higher proportion of male eggs than in the absence of the inventive methods. In some embodiments, the donor PGCs are from a different species than the recipient bird. In preferred embodiments, endogenous PGCs are reduced using busulfan.

Methods for gamete production in birds

A method for the production and collection of avian sperm comprises the steps of: providing primordial germ cells from a donor avian species; administering the primordial germ cells to a recipient avian species in ovo; incubating the recipient avian species to hatch; and then collecting sperm of the donor avian species from the recipient avian species. For example, the donor avian species may be a whooping crane, and the recipient avian species may be a sand hill crane. In another example, the donor avian species may be a turkey, and the recipient avian species may be a chicken.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Samuel Lloyd Pardue