title: Sex determination in 58 bird species and evaluation of CHD gene as a universal molecular marker in bird sexing.
abstract: The aim of this research was to test the CHD gene (Chromo Helicase DNA-binding gene) as a universal molecular marker for sexing birds of relatively distant species. The CHD gene corresponds to the aim because of its high degree of conservation and different lengths in Z and W chromosomes due to different intron sizes. DNA was isolated from feathers and the amplification of the CHD gene was performed with the following sets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers: 2550F/2718R and P2/P8. Sex determination was attempted in 284 samples of 58 bird species. It was successful in 50 bird species; in 16 of those (Alopochen aegyptiacus, Ara severus, Aratinga acuticaudata, Bucorvus leadbeateri, Cereopsis novaehollandiae, Columba arquatrix, Corvus corax, C. frugilegus, Cyanoliseus patagonus, Guttera plumifera, Lamprotornis superbus, Milvus milvus, Neophron percnopterus, Ocyphaps lophotes, Podiceps cristatus, and Poicephalus senegalus), it was carried out for the first time using molecular markers and PCR. It is reasonable to assume that extensive research is necessary to define the CHD gene as a universal molecular marker for successful sex determination in all bird species (with exception of ratites). The results of this study may largely contribute to the aim.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. biolog@vet.bg.ac.rs
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vucicevic
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevanov-Pavlovic
authors.forename: Jevrosima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevanovic
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajic
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aleksic
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stanimirovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; C489845:CHD-W protein, Gallus gallus; C489846:CHD-Z protein, Gallus gallus; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers