Inheritance of Characteristics in Domestic Fowl — John Shaqi
Inheritance of Characteristics in Domestic FowlDavenport, Charles Benedict
Science
Inheritance of Characteristics in Domestic Fowl
Davenport, Charles Benedict
Heredity; Poultry
There are two main types of polydactylism: that in which the inner
toe (I) of the normal foot is replaced by 2 simple toes, and
that in which it is replaced by two toes, of which the mediad is
simple and the laterad is divided distally. The former type is
characteristic of the Houdans; the latter is usually associated with
the Silkies. Both conditions are, however, found in both races. The
simplest condition is seen in many Houdans of my strain. It consists
of 2 equal, medium-sized toes (I' and I") lying close together
and parallel to or slightly convex towards each other. This condition
indicates that the 2 toes, together, are to be regarded as the
equivalent of the normal single toe occupying the same position. The
2 toes are, I conjecture, derived from the single toe by splitting.
The first series of changes consists of the increase in length of the
lateral element (I") and a corresponding decrease of the median
element (I'). In the last term of the series there are only 4 toes
on the foot, but the inner toe is not like the normal inner toe of
poultry, but is a much elongated I".
In the Silkie, also, the series begins with 2 small, closely-applied
toes (I' and I"). But when there are only 2 toes the lateral one
is usually much the larger. Typically this lateral toe is, as stated,
split, so that the nail is double, and the degree of splitting is
variable, in extreme cases involving half or more than half of the
toe. A second series of changes consists of the gradual reduction of
toe I' (often concomitantly with an increase in I") which may
end in its entire disappearance and thus reduce the number of toes to
5, but these are not equivalent to the 5 toes of the Houdans, since
the extra Houdan toes are I', I", and those of the reduced Silkie
are I"_a_ and I"_b_. Finally, in Silkies, the inner toe (I')
may split (more or less completely), and thus the 7-toed condition
arises. Moreover, in Houdans I have on one or two occasions found
the lateral element (I") bifid distally, resembling perfectly the
typical condition found in the Silkies.
A simple nomenclature is suggested for these various types of
extra-toes. The simple double-toed condition, as found commonly
in Houdans, may be called the _duplex_ type (D). The loss of
I' gives the _reduced duplex_ (D'). The case of split I", as
commonly seen in the Silkie, is the _triplex_ type (T); with the
loss of I' this becomes the _reduced triplex_ (T', not duplex!).
The 7-toed condition of Silkies may be called the _quadruplex type_
(Q); the combination split I' and single I" gives the _reduced
quadruplex_ (Q').[3]
[3] _E. g._, Pen 813, 935 ♀, embryo from egg of May 13.
The reduction that leads to the loss of I' consists of a loss
of phalanges, as Bateson (1904) has already pointed out. It seems
probable that the reduction affects first the proximal phalanges,
since the distal nail-bearing phalanx is the last to disappear.
B. RESULTS OF HYBRIDIZATION.
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