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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Assessing Species-specific Contributions To Craniofacial Development Using Quail-duck Chimeras
Published on: May 31, 2014
Neural correlates of genetically determined and acquired color preferences in quail chicks
Abstract:
The uptake of tritiated 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) was examined in brains of artificially selected and unselected control quail, in relation to genetically and environmentally variable early approach preferences of a colored stimulus. The data indicated high labeling in the tectofugal and low labeling in the thalamofugal projection systems in birds exhibiting preference for the light wavelength characteristics of the stimulus in independently tested choice situations. The differential labeling was observed regardless whether the stimulus preference was genetic or environmental in origin (i.e. whether it was exhibited by artificially selected and experientially naive or by unselected and imprinted control chicks). Chicks responding to the stimulus after prior imprinting experiences also exhibited high labeling in the intermediate medial portions of the neostriatum and hyperstriatum ventrale.
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