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The effects of inbreeding on birth weight and foetal and placental growth in mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

J. C. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University College, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
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Twenty-four lines were bred from a base population of outbred Q mice by continued full-sib mating. Inbreeding did not cause depression in mean birth weight. However, convincing evidence of inbreeding depression in foetal weight at 17½ days' gestation was found; this depression in the rate of prenatal growth was attributable both to inbreeding in the litter and the mother. It was also inferred from the results of crossing the partially inbred lines that inbreeding in the litter caused depression of placental weight. It is concluded that the genes controlling the rate of prenatal growth exhibit directional dominance but that the resulting inbreeding depression in this trait does not lead to a lower birth weight, possibly because of the compensating effect of a longer period of gestation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

References

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