title: Reliable and robust molecular sexing of the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) using PCR-RFLP analysis of the CHD 1 gene.
abstract: The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a bird of prey that is persecuted in the United Kingdom, and there is a need for a DNA-based individual identification and sexing system for the use in forensic investigations. This study reports a new set of PCR primers for the chromo-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1 gene, which allows sexing using PCR-RFLP. Instead of exonic primers that amplify across a large intron, this set consists of a primer within the intron, enabling reduction in amplicon sizes from 356 to 212 bp and 565 to 219 bp in W and Z chromosomes. DNA degradation and dilution experiments demonstrate that this set is significantly more robust than one that amplifies across the intron, and sequencing of the intronic primer-binding region across several individuals shows that it is highly conserved. While our objective is to incorporate this primer set into an STR-based individualization kit, it may in the meantime prove useful in forensic or conservation studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic & Investigative Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK; Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, GE, 1090, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Christine Michelle
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Vanisha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: Martin Derek
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Arati
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iyengar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004265:DNA Helicases; C080359:CHD1 protein, human
keywords: bird of prey; chromo-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1; forensic science; molecular sexing; wildlife forensics; wildlife persecution