Production of duck-chicken chimeras by transferring early blastodermal cells.

Duck blastodermal cells isolated from Stage X embryos of Maya ducks were injected into subgerminal cavity of recipient Stage X chicken embryos treated with gamma-irradiation or untreated. Eleven somatic chimeras were obtained based on plumage color and were raised to sexual maturity. To test for germline chimerism, progeny tests were performed by mating the chimeras with Maya ducks. A total of 622 eggs was collected and incubated. Fertility rate and hatchability were 2.9% (18/622) and 1.0% (6/622), respectively. The six duck hatchlings were from Chimera 9801 and were considered to be derived from the germ cells developed from the donor Maya blastodermal cells, indicating that Chimera 9801 is a germline chimera.