The use of biochemical markers for the determination of paternity in Japanese quails coturnix Japonica

Abstract

The use of genetic markers of wild birds gives a controversial data about monogamy in birds: even in swans pairs (the symbol of faithfulness) the intraspecific brood parasitism and extra-pair mating was detected by genotyping of chicks and parents [1]. Still discussed question – the extra-pair mating is the way to increase the genetic variability in the offspring, or this is only the expression of males ‘good genes’ that increases the attractiveness of males to females. The most straight forward test of the good genes hypothesis is to compare the paternity rate of males within their own broods and look for correlations with a male trait that might indicate genetic quality [2]. [...]Biologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta