Incubator Facts
Incubation is a necessary process in the development of many types of embryos; it refers, simply, to embryos being kept warm, often at a constant temperature. Birds lay on their eggs to keep them warm whereas reptiles often bury theirs in the dirt for proper incubation. Of course, captive, mass breeding of certain animals require a special device if eggs are going to develop properly: namely, incubators, which simulate natural incubation.
Other People Are Reading
-
What Is an Incubator?
-
An incubator is a device, usually a box, whose interior is kept very warm using different types of heating units, whether they be coils, mats, or even heating bulbs. Incubators usually have racks upon which eggs are placed, along with a thermostat to control the temperature. Many have advanced features such as timers or humidity gauges or else can be programmed to cycle through various temperatures.
Importance of Incubation
-
Reptiles and many birds rely on incubation to ensure the development of the embryos within their eggs. In the wild, birds will sit on their eggs in a process known as "brooding" to incubate their eggs, keeping them warm and helping them retain humidity; if an egg becomes too cold or too dry, the embryo will probably die off. In reptiles the gender of many embryos is actually temperature-dependent. For example, in many types of geckos and monitors, higher incubation temperatures will yield males whereas lower temperatures will yield females.
-
Homemade Incubators
-
Some incubators can cost a small fortune, so many bird and reptile breeders make their own with easy-to-find materials. An incubator can be constructed with a styrofoam box with a heat mat at the bottom, a broiler rack to hold the eggs, and a thermostat. Other breeders, particularly chicken breeders, will use emptied refrigerators as giant incubators, lining the racks with chicken eggs and heating the interior using heat lamps, special heating coils, or heating mats.
Isolettes
-
Isolette incubators are sepecial devices found in hospitals around the world. These incubators are made of clear plastic with cushioned bottoms and are designed to keep newborn babies warm. Isolette incubators can also protect premature babies from harsh sounds, intense lights, infections, and airborne germs and also humidify the air to maintain skin integrity.
Biology
-
In biological labs, specialized incubators are often used to monitor cell cultures within certain temperatures over certain times. Using these incubators, a biologist may observe how certain cells or bacteria or viruses react to certain air temperatures and humidity levels. More elaborate biological incubators can even lower temperatures and be programmed to warm and cool in cycles, simulating a naturalistic environment.
-
References
- Photo Credit chickens after incubator image by Kryuchkov Alexey from Fotolia.com
