Sexing chick embryos: a rapid and simple protocol.
1. Analysis of gene expression in the developing chick gonads requires the collection of male and female tissues from embryos between 3.5 d and 8.5 d of development. However, male and female chick embryos are indistinguishable by morphological examination before d 7.5 of development. 2. Sex identification of earlier embryos is only possible by molecular methods, which at present are laborious and time consuming. 3. We have devised a PCR-based sexing protocol which combines both sex specific and control reactions in a single tube assay. The assay is rapid and effective over a wide range of DNA concentrations and is tolerant of poor quality DNA. 4. Procedures are described for identifying the sex of individual embryos using either tissue samples or a small number of cells recovered from amniotic fluid.
Clinton
M
M
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, Scotland. michael.clinton@BBSRC.AC.UK
Haines
L
L
Belloir
B
B
McBride
D
D
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004247:DNA