EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the  undersigned  directors and officers of EMBREX,  INC., a North  Carolina
corporation  (the  "Company"),  do hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Randall  L.
Marcuson  and  Don  T.  Seaquist  or  either  of  them,   our  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  with full power of substitution,  to execute and
deliver  an Annual  Report on Form 10-K  pursuant  to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended  (the "Act"),  with respect to the
year ended  December  31,  1997,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  and to do any and all acts and things  and to  execute  any and all
instruments  for us and in our names in the capacities  indicated  below,  which
said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or either of them,  may deem  necessary or
advisable  to  enable  the  Company  to  comply  with  the Act  and  any  rules,
regulations,  and  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission in
connection  with  such  Report,  including  without  limitation  the  power  and
authority  to  sign  for  us or any of us in  our  names  and in the  capacities
indicated  below any and all amendments to such Report;  and we do hereby ratify
and confirm all that the said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney.

IN  WITNESS  THEREOF,  the  undersigned  have  signed  this  instrument  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                       Title                             Date
- ---------                       -----                             ----

/s/ Randall L. Marcuson         President, Chief Executive        March 19, 1998
- ------------------------        Officer, and Director
Randall L. Marcuson             

/s/ C.E. Austin                 Director                          March 19, 1998
- ------------------------
Charles E. Austin

/s/ C. Daniel Blackshear        Director                          March 19, 1998
- ------------------------
C. Daniel Blackshear

/s/ Lester M. Crawford          Director                          March 19, 1998
- ------------------------
Lester M. Crawford

/s/ Kenneth N. May              Director                          March 19, 1998
- ------------------------
Kenneth N. May

/s/ Arthur M. Pappas            Director                          March 19, 1998
- ------------------------
Arthur M. Pappas

/s/ Don T. Seaquist             Vice President, Finance           March 19, 1998
- ------------------------        and Administration, and
Don T. Seaquist                 Chief Financial Officer



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