ABSTRACT

This chapter emphasises on the protocol for the manipulation of quail embryos such as the introduction of foreign genes and cells, and the subsequent in vitro culturing of the manipulated embryos resulting in hatchlings. The micropipette is attached to a manipulator and connected to a delivery injector (M-152 and IM-6, Narishige) with Teflon tubing (1 and 2 mm inner and outer diameters, respectively) filled with distilled water. The mixture is transfused into the marginal vein of the embryo at H&H stages 12–16 using a micropipette, beveled at a 20° angle to an outer diameter of 30 µm. The embryo at H&H stages 12–16 is cultured using system Q3. In a one to one transfer, the donor embryo is also cultured in vitro up to day 8 of development and its sex can be determined by morphological and histological observations of the gonads.