Comparative biological and biochemical studies in hybrid chicks

The normal course of development of electrophoretic serum protein patterns has been examined in two hybrid strains of chicks during the 7 weeks after hatching and was found to proceed distinctively. Hybrid A (susceptible to aflatoxin) had an almost constant mean serum protein concentration over this period. On the other hand, after a high mean concentration (4–09 g./100 ml.) in day‐old chicks of hybrid B (less susceptible to aflatoxin) there was a fall to 2.69 g./100 ml. at 7 days, followed by a gradual increase to 3.28 g./100 ml., approximately the level found throughout the experiment in hybrid A.

Proportions of albumin and total globulins varied in an almost identical manner in each group. Day‐old chicks of hybrid A had significantly lower β‐ and γ‐globulin concentrations and at 7 days, when there was a maximum difference in mean total protein concentrations, the serum albumin content was significantly higher in this hybrid.