title: The use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) in the isolation of sex-specific markers.
abstract: Sex identification is a problem in research and conservation. It can often be solved using a DNA test but this is only an option if a sex-specific marker is available. Such markers can be identified using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. This is usually a taxonomic method, as it produces a DNA fingerprint of 50-100 PCR bands. However, if male and female AFLP products are compared, sex-specific markers are confined to the heterogametic sex and can rapidly be identified. Once a marker is found, AFLP can be used to sex organisms directly or the marker can be sequenced and a standard PCR test designed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000235:genetics