Evidence of genetic differences in acute hypoxia survival

In a population of Japanese quail, a genetic selection was performed leading to two strains--one resistant and one susceptible to an acute hypoxic nitrogen challenge as well as to an acute carbon monoxide intoxication. Crossing these two strains gives an F1 hybrid whose survival to acute hypoxia appears to be very close to the susceptible strain. The difference in acute hypoxic survival already appears in embryos at the age of 12 d. Susceptibility to acute hypoxia seems to be a dominant character.