Viability Testing and Development Monitoring in Gentoo and Adelie Penguin Eggs: A Novel Role for MRI

Miriam Scadeng¹, Lauren DuBois², Christy Simeone², Stephanie Costelow², David Dubowitz¹, Judy St Leger²

This study describes the techniques for in-ovo, in-vivo anatomical MR imaging of penguin eggs, including anesthetized developing penguin chicks. It illustrates the features of penguin egg viability throughout development. MRI has potential use as an in-vivo assay for environmental toxicity in eggs, and as a non destructive method of determining the normal anatomical appearances of chick development for scientific and educational purposes.