CLENCH - A NEW AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE MUTATION IN JAPANESE-QUAIL

The clench (CL) is a new morphological mutation in Japanese quail (Cot urnix japonica). The CL mutants rigidly clench their toes in both legs , which gives rise to a human fistlike appearance in the distal ends o f the legs. Other parts of the CL body are quite normal. In spite of t he severe toe abnormality, the CL mutants are normal in fertility, hat chability, and post natal viability. Genetic analysis revealed that th e CL mutation is an autosomal recessive with 100% penetrance. The prop osed gene symbol is cl.