3. To determine physiology of gene action, especially as reflected 

 by metabolic and endocrine differences in response to selected 

 environmental variables. 



4. To study gene-environmental interactions. 



The Technical Committee agreed to approach its objectives by each 

 state working on the phase or phases for which it was best equipped. 



Priority was given to the development of tester populations under 

 objective 1. An advisory committee on population genetics was appoint- 

 ed and was asked to work out detailed procedures for development and 

 maintenance of randombred control populations. This the advisory com- 

 mittee did at a meeting February 5, 1954. 



Don C. Warren was invited to serve as Coordinator in addition to 

 his duties as Coordinator of the other Regional poultry breeding pro- 

 jects. 



NE-6 began July 1, 1954 and was revised effective May 1958. The 

 title was shortened to, "Genetic and Physiologic Bases for Poultry Im- 

 provement." The objectives were changed to the following: 



1. To develop and evaluate methods for breeding improvement of 

 chickens in reproduction, egg quality, meat production, via- 

 bility and other economically important characters. 



2. To determine and evaluate: 



a. Genetic correlations among economic traits. 



b. Genetic bases for differences in physiologic mechanisms. 



c. Gene-environment interactions. 



NE-6 was revised a second time effective in April 1961. The title 

 remained the same but the objectives became: 



To develop and evaluate methods for use in chicken breeding pro- 

 grams designed to improve reproduction, egg quality, meat production, 

 viability, and other economically important characters. In order to ac- 

 complish this goal, it is necessary to determine and evaluate the follow- 

 ing: 



1. Genetic bases for differences in physiological mechanisms. 



2. Genetic parameters for economic traits. 



3. Gene-environment interactions. 



NE-6 was terminated in June 1963. Procedures and results are sum- 

 marized in the following paragraphs. More detailed information may 

 be found in the publications listed at the end of the bulletin. 



Procedure 



The organization and supervision of the cooperative project was in 

 the hands of the Regional Technical Committee. The Committee con- 

 sisted of a Director of an Agricultural Experiment Station in the region 

 acting as the Administrator Advisor, one representative of each of the 

 cooperating Agricultural Experiment Stations, a representative of the 



