title: A PCR assay for gender assignment in dugong (Dugong dugon) and West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).
abstract: Gender assignment for some aquatic mammals in the field is difficult. Molecular sexing from tissue biopsies is possible as males are heterogametic. Here we describe a multiplex PCR assay that amplifies the male specific SRY gene and differentiates ZFX and ZFY gametologues in two sirenian species, dugong (Dugong dugon) and West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). The assay was validated with animals of known gender and proved accurate and robust to experimental failure.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Fisheries Laboratory, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, University of Queensland, Level 6 North Tower, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia, School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McHale
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broderick
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ovenden
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lanyon