Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 June 2012
The study of genetic effects on the phenotype of gametes may be called the genetics of gametes. As evidence of such genetic effects, marked inter-strain differences have been demonstrated in characteristics of rabbit spermatozoa examined in nigrosin-eosin preparations. Strain differences have been found in the size and shape of the spermatozoan head, and in a measure of spermatozoan viability—the incidence of stained heads. A first comparison of the spermatozoa of specific breeds is given. The size of the spermatozoan head is to some extent independent of the body weight.