A method for noninvasive, long-term recording of the avian embryo heart rate.

A technique for obtaining a noninvasive electrocardiogram (ECG) from avian embryos is described. Accounts of electronic signal processing and computer-aided long-term recording are included. Furthermore, an algorithm is demonstrated for extracting the relevant information on heart rate from noisy data samples. The method provides the basis for monitoring the heart rate of the avian embryo on different time scales and under different influences.