Methods for controlling sex of oviparous embryos using light sources

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of promoting production of embryos of a selected sex in eggs, the method comprising:
 incubating a plurality of fertilized eggs to promote hatching of the eggs; and   irradiating the plurality of fertilized eggs with light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within a narrow range of wavelengths while the plurality of fertilized eggs are incubated.   
     
     
         2 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the narrow range of wavelengths is one of a 410-450 nm wavelength range and a 450-495 nm wavelength range. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting the narrow range of wavelengths for the spectrum of light irradiating the eggs based on the selected sex of embryos being promoted in the eggs.   
     
     
         4 . The method  claim 3 , wherein the narrow range of wavelengths is selected to be the 410-450 nm wavelength range when production of female embryos is promoted. 
     
     
         5 . The method  claim 3 , wherein the narrow range of wavelengths is selected to be the 450-495 nm wavelength range when production of male embryos is promoted. 
     
     
         6 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fertilized eggs are irradiated with light having the spectrum substantially concentrated within the narrow range of wavelengths during the first 6 days of incubation. 
     
     
         7 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fertilized eggs are only irradiated with light having the spectrum substantially concentrated within the narrow range of wavelengths while the plurality of fertilized eggs are incubated. 
     
     
         8 . The method  claim 7 , further comprising:
 shielding the plurality of fertilized eggs from light having a spectrum substantially concentrated outside of the narrow range of wavelengths while the plurality of fertilized eggs are incubated.   
     
     
         9 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the irradiating of the eggs comprises irradiating the plurality of fertilized eggs with light having an intensity of 3 lumens or less while the plurality of fertilized eggs are incubated. 
     
     
         10 . An incubating device comprising:
 a body having an interior cavity that can be sealed from an outside of the body;   a plurality of trays disposed in the interior cavity and configured to receive eggs for incubation;   a plurality of lighting elements disposed on each tray of the plurality of trays and configured to emit light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within a pre-determined narrow wavelength range for irradiating the eggs; and   a lighting controller electrically connected to the plurality of lighting elements and configured to activate the lighting elements at a pre-determined lighting intensity and according to a pre-determined schedule to irradiate the eggs with light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within the pre-determined wavelength range and having the pre-determined lighting intensity according to the pre-determined schedule.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the plurality of lighting elements comprises:
 a first plurality of lighting elements disposed on each tray of the plurality of trays and configured to emit light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within a first pre-determined wavelength range; and 
 a second plurality of lighting elements disposed on each tray of the plurality of trays and configured to emit light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within a second pre-determined wavelength range different from the first pre-determined wavelength range, and 
   the lighting controller is electrically connected to the first and second pluralities of lighting elements and is configured to separately activate the lighting elements of the first and second pluralities of lighting elements with respective lighting intensities and according to respective schedules for irradiating the eggs.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein each tray of the plurality of trays has an upper surface configured to have the eggs disposed thereon and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and the plurality of lighting elements comprises lighting elements disposed on the lower surface of at least one tray. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprises lighting elements disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of at least one tray. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the lighting elements are configured to emit light with wavelengths substantially concentrated within the range of 410-450 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the lighting elements are configured to emit light with wavelengths substantially concentrated within the range of 450-495 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the lighting elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one tray actuator mechanically coupled to each of the plurality of trays, and operative to move the trays having the eggs for incubation; and   a controller electrically connected to the at least one tray actuator and comprising the lighting controller,   wherein each tray of the plurality of trays is rotatable about an axis, and the at least one tray actuator is configured to rotate the trays to cause the trays to tilt in response to a control signal received by the actuator, and   wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the at least one tray actuator and the plurality of lighting elements according to the pre-determined schedule.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a magnetic field source disposed in the interior cavity and configured to produce a magnetic flux in the interior cavity for application to the eggs.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 disposing, in an incubating device having an interior cavity that can be sealed from an outside, a plurality of lighting elements on each of a plurality of trays disposed in the interior cavity and configured to receive eggs for incubation, wherein each lighting element of the plurality of lighting elements is configured to emit light having a spectrum substantially concentrated within a pre-determined narrow range of wavelengths;   disposing a plurality of eggs on each of the plurality of trays having lighting elements disposed thereon;   applying pre-determined environmental conditions to the interior cavity of the incubating device, wherein the environmental conditions are selected to promote hatching of the plurality of eggs; and   applying pre-determined lighting conditions including lighting having a spectrum substantially concentrated within the pre-determined narrow range of wavelengths to the interior cavity of the incubating device,   wherein the lighting conditions are applied during the application of the environmental conditions selected to promote hatching of the plurality of eggs.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pre-determined lighting conditions are selected to promote production of embryos of a selected sex in the eggs and the narrow range of wavelengths is selected based on the selected sex. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the environmental conditions are applied according to a pre-determined schedule, and the lighting conditions are applied according to the same pre-determined schedule. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lighting elements are configured to emit light with wavelengths substantially concentrated within the range of 410-450 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lighting elements are configured to emit light with wavelengths substantially concentrated within the range of 450-495 nm. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the disposing the plurality of lighting elements on each of the plurality of trays comprises:
 disposing, on each tray of the plurality of trays, a first plurality of lighting elements configured to emit light having wavelengths substantially concentrated within a first pre-determined wavelength range; and   disposing, on each tray of the plurality of trays, a second plurality of lighting elements configured to emit light having wavelengths substantially concentrated within a second pre-determined wavelength range different from the first pre-determined wavelength range.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the applying pre-determined lighting conditions to the interior cavity of the incubating device comprises separately activating the lighting elements of the first and second pluralities of lighting elements with respective lighting intensities and according to respective schedules for irradiating the eggs. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each tray of the plurality of trays has an upper surface configured to have the eggs disposed thereon and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and the disposing the plurality of lighting elements on each of the plurality of trays comprises disposing lighting elements on the lower surface of at least one tray. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein applying pre-determined lighting conditions to the interior cavity of the incubating device comprises causing the lighting elements to emit light having an intensity of 3 lumens or less.