Sexing the Sciuridae: a simple and accurate set of molecular methods to determine sex in tree squirrels, ground squirrels and marmots.
We determined the sequence of the male-specific minor histocompatibility complex antigen (Smcy) from the Y chromosome of seven squirrel species (Sciuridae, Rodentia). Based on conserved regions inside the Smcy intron sequence, we designed PCR primers for sex determination in these species that can be co-amplified with nuclear loci as controls. PCR co-amplification yields two products for males and one for females that are easily visualized as bands by agarose gel electrophoresis. Our method provides simple and reliable sex determination across a wide range of squirrel species.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. jgorrell@ualberta.ca
Jamieson C
JC
Gorrell
Stan
S
Boutin
Shirley
S
Raveh
Peter
P
Neuhaus
Steeve D
SD
Côté
David W
DW
Coltman
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012723:Sex
D017931:DNA Primers; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens