ON THE RELATION BETWEEN BIRTH WEIGHT AND LITTER SIZE, IN MICE

Abstract

In mice the relation between number (N) of young in a litter and the wt. (W) of the litter can be expressed as W=aNK. For adequately homogeneous data (K) has the nonspecific value 0.83. With data not homogeneous with respect to certain conditions the equation may still be descriptive, but with K higher than 0.83. Two kinds of mice obeying this formulation, with the same K, are an albino strain (AA) and a flex-tail fetal anemic (aa). Their ideal wts. of a litter of 1 (W1, free from effects of intrauterine competition) are quite different. Their F1 offspring (from AA mothers) give W1 precisely intermediate. To test the partition theory for the basis of the parabolic equation, back-cross and F2 litters were obtained in which for a span of litter sizes there occurred various proportions of anemic to non-anemic young. For equal numbers of each in the same litters the relation of wt. of aa to wt. of Aa young is again described by Wa = aWAK, and as before K = 0.83. Examination of the wts. of anemic and of non-anemic young, for various proportions of the 2 in litters of different total numbers, shows that the partition theory can account for a number of the curious relations, including the fact that aa young and Aa young if in mixed litters increase in wt. more for an increment of 1 in the litter than if in unmixed litters of the same N. This mechanical result of partitioning can be regarded as a kind of model for heterosis resulting from developmental disharmony.