Abstract

Data from 332 female ICR mice were utilized to study in vitro developmental competency (IVDC; percentage of fertilized one cell embryos developing to blastocysts in vitro per female donor). A mean + SD of 49.28% + 31.0 was found, displaying a very large between female variation for this trait. The distribution of IVDC ranged from 0% to 100% competency. Two generations of replicated divergent selection for IVDC in ICR mice were carried out. No significant pattern of response was observed. Estimation of heritability by daughter - dam regression yielded an estimate of . 12 + .18, indicating that the large between female variation in IVDC is not of an additive genetic nature.

D. Pomp, E. S Critser, J. J Rutledge

Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume XII. Biotechnology, selection experiments, parameter estimation, design of breeding systems, management of genetic resources., , 109–114, 1986