Comprehensive Study of Organogenesis During Embryonic Development of Japanese Quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

The avian embryo is unique for studying morphogenesis in birds. Today widely used model for experimentation is chick and the focus on the chick embryo has somewhat overshadowed the other avian species which can also prove to be of much importance. One avian species which is equally powerful is the Japanese Quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. The Japanese Quail, due to its easy maintenance, early sexual maturity, shorter generation interval and high rate of egg production has become a pilot animal in the field of research.In the present study, normal stages of chick embryo development were used as a basis for studying the development of quail embryo. Japanese Quail embryo takes approximately 17 days to hatch, a primitive streak were seen on Day 1 while Day 2 shows prominent somites. Eye pigmentation, beak region, various joints were seen on Day 4 and Day 5 respectively. On Day 9 and onwards there was prominent pigmentation were observed. Thus, the major objective of the present research work was to study the embryonic development of the Japanese Quail and to identify the period of incubation where the Japanese Quail embryo gives the faster ontogeny than chick embryo