Abstract
Vivigen , Inc. of Santa Fe, New
Mexico, the world 's largest human
cytogenetics laboratory, has also
developed a cytogenetic method for
determination of sex in avian species,
and has been commercially " sexing
birds" since early 1987 . This method
of sex determination for birds developed
from the technology already
available for the detection of chromosome
abnormalities in humans .
Basically, cells are extracted from
blood feather pulp, grown in tissue
culture, harvested , and specially
stained to reveal the chromosomes.
The method is 100% accurate, providing
the sample is properly harvested
and promptly sent to the lab.
Vivigen, Inc. has, as of january 1,
1989, passed the avian genetic laboratory
to Bil Parker who, with Dr. Carll
Goodpasture and Gustavo Seluja, was
instrumental in the original development
of the " Bird Lab" at Vivigen .
The new name for the company is
AVIGEN and is located at the Vivigen
facility at 550 St. Michael 's Drive,
Santa Fe, ew Mexico 87501.