Abstract
DNA sequences homologous to the genomes of type C retroviruses are widespread among vertebrates1. Ten genetic loci containing endogenous viral DNA sequences have been documented in the white Leghorn chicken alone2,3. Six of these genetic loci are associated with the production of virus or of viral proteins in embryonic fibroblasts (refs 2–4, and S.M.A., L. B. Crittenden and E.G.B., in preparation) and one of the loci may be expressed in the erythroblasts of 5-day-old embryos5. The ubiquitous presence of endogenous viral genes among vertebrate species and the association of their expression with development of the haematopoietic system in the mouse6 have led to the proposal that these genes are involved in ontogeny. In addition, the genes may be implicated in oncogenesis as in the case of the AKR mouse in which a high incidence of spontaneous leukaemia is associated with the expression of endogenous murine leukaemia virus genomes7,8. We report here the production of a fertile rooster which lacks avian leukosis virus-related endogenous viral genes and which seems to be completely normal and healthy. Thus, endogenous viral genes are apparently not essential for the normal development of the chicken. An endogenous virus-free state has also been reported for three species of jungle fowl9 and for the B-type viral genes of the mouse10.
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Astrin, S., Buss, E. & Hayward, W. Endogenous viral genes are non-essential in the chicken. Nature 282, 339–341 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282339a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282339a0
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