This disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of a method of creating a YY animal broodstock, preferably in a single generation, wherein the broodstock includes only sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating YY males via androgenesis; (b) exposing selected ones of the YY males created in step (a) to a feminizing hormone; and (c) identifying sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males from among the YY males created in steps (a) and (b). In other embodiments, the method further comprises: (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) N times in order to produce N unrelated families of sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males; and (e) cross-breeding various ones of the unrelated families produced in step (d) in order to produce a genetically-diverse YY progeny. In some embodiments, N may be about 60.

Applicants have identified that three critical phenotypic/genetic measures are highly correlated with transition period health and may be used in selection and breeding protocols and/or in combination with traditional breeding and marker assisted selection methods to improve predictability of transition period health. According to the invention genetic evaluations for mastitis, ketosis, and metritis have been found to be highly predictive of overall transition health. The genetic evaluations are produced by directly measuring thousands of clinical cases of mastitis, ketosis, and metritis in ancestors of a particular animal and using this data in selection. Applicant's selection criteria and quickly impact a breeders population by reducing transition cow disease incidence in the initial population and in progeny.

Applicants have identified that three critical phenotypic/genetic measures are highly correlated with transition period health and may be used in selection and breeding protocols and/or in combination with traditional breeding and marker assisted selection methods to improve predictability of transition period health. According to the invention genetic evaluations for mastitis, ketosis, and metritis have been found to be highly predictive of overall transition health. The genetic evaluations are produced by directly measuring thousands of clinical cases of mastitis, ketosis, and metritis in ancestors of a particular animal and using this data in selection. Applicant's selection criteria and quickly impact a breeders population by reducing transition cow disease incidence in the initial population and in progeny.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, apparatuses and methods for regulation hormone production in mammals. Examples include but are not limited to by creating electro-magnetic wave emission pulse trains (photons) of individual color spectrums in sufficient intensity to drive hormone production in a mammal, using a characteristic frequency or pattern to minimize the required input power necessary to regulate hormone production, while also allowing for the monitoring of the power consumption and other variables of the system. By controlling the duty cycle, intensity, wavelength band and frequency of photon signals to a mammal, production of specific hormones can be regulated through the cycling between blue, green, yellow, near-red, far-red, infrared and ultra violet photon modulation.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, apparatuses and methods for regulation hormone production in mammals. Examples include but are not limited to by creating electro-magnetic wave emission pulse trains (photons) of individual color spectrums in sufficient intensity to drive hormone production in a mammal, using a characteristic frequency or pattern to minimize the required input power necessary to regulate hormone production, while also allowing for the monitoring of the power consumption and other variables of the system. By controlling the duty cycle, intensity, wavelength band and frequency of photon signals to a mammal, production of specific hormones can be regulated through the cycling between blue, green, yellow, near-red, far-red, infrared and ultra violet photon modulation.

The present disclosure provides a kit and method for constructing a long-acting depression animal model. The present disclosure adopts Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) (or Mycobacterium bovis (M bovis)) and low-dose pertussis toxin (PTX) for combined induction, which greatly reduces modeling cost. A mouse model constructed by the method of the present disclosure can clearly distinguish a time interval of pathological behaviors from a time interval of depression-like behaviors and has prominent face validity and predictive validity. The method of the present disclosure is simple and convenient and does not require a large number of tedious daily operations as the depression model construction by chronic unpredictable stress, chronic restraint stress, social defeat, mother-child separation, or the like. The mouse model of the present disclosure can provide a valuable long-term intervention window for research on antidepressant therapy.

The present disclosure provides a kit and method for constructing a long-acting depression animal model. The present disclosure adopts Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) (or Mycobacterium bovis (M bovis)) and low-dose pertussis toxin (PTX) for combined induction, which greatly reduces modeling cost. A mouse model constructed by the method of the present disclosure can clearly distinguish a time interval of pathological behaviors from a time interval of depression-like behaviors and has prominent face validity and predictive validity. The method of the present disclosure is simple and convenient and does not require a large number of tedious daily operations as the depression model construction by chronic unpredictable stress, chronic restraint stress, social defeat, mother-child separation, or the like. The mouse model of the present disclosure can provide a valuable long-term intervention window for research on antidepressant therapy.

Non-human animals and offspring thereof comprising at least one modified chromosomal sequence in a gene encoding a CD163 protein are provided. Animal cells that contain such modified chromosomal sequences are also provided. The animals and cells have increased resistance to pathogens, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The animals and offspring have chromosomal modifications of a CD163 gene. The invention further relates to methods of breeding to create pathogen-resistant animals and populations of animals made using such methods.

Non-human animals and offspring thereof comprising at least one modified chromosomal sequence in a gene encoding a CD163 protein are provided. Animal cells that contain such modified chromosomal sequences are also provided. The animals and cells have increased resistance to pathogens, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The animals and offspring have chromosomal modifications of a CD163 gene. The invention further relates to methods of breeding to create pathogen-resistant animals and populations of animals made using such methods.

The sex of embryos in eggs is influenced or controlled through the application of light having selected wavelengths in order to promote the development of embryos of a selected sex. An incubating device is provided having an interior cavity that can be sealed from an outside, and having a plurality of lighting elements disposed on each of a plurality of trays disposed in the interior cavity. Eggs are disposed on the trays, and pre-determined environmental conditions are applied to the interior cavity to promote hatching of the eggs. Concurrently with the application of the environmental conditions, the eggs are irradiated according to pre-determined lighting conditions. The lighting conditions include applying light having wavelengths substantially concentrated in selected ranges, such as light wavelengths within the 390-419 nm, 410-450 nm, 420-450 nm, 450-495 nm, or other narrow range.