Agricultural Research Service

October 31, 2000

This invention is for tissue culture techniques for growing cells with potential to develop into the reproductive organs of adult birds, which ultimately can be used to develop disease-resistant chickens. This method allows chicken embryonic cells to be grown in tissue culture for extended periods without distinguishing between certain characteristics, such as male or female. This technique allows researchers more time to target specific genes, which then can be reinserted back into a developing embryo. These cells could be used to produce commercial chicken breeding lines with resistance to major diseases, like avian leukosis virus (ALV) and Marek's disease virus (MDV). ALV-J is an emerging disease that has spread through the broiler breeder industry worldwide, causing severe bird losses.

Harry D. Hunt Avian Disease and Oncology Research 3606 East Mount Hope Road East Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 337-6828 / Fax: (517) 337-6776 E-mail: hunthd@msu.edu	Larry D. Bacon (Same address as first inventor) (517) 337-6831 / Fax: (517) 337-6776 E-mail: baconld@msu.edu
Bernard C. Wentworth 301 North Gammond Road Madison, WI 53717	Tsai Herng (Same address as first inventor)
Alice L. Wentworth 301 North Gammond Road Madison, WI 53717