A PCR assay detects a male-specific duplicated copy of Anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) in the lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus).
BACKGROUND
Anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) or Müllerian-inhibiting substance (mis) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family of hormones. This gene plays a key role in vertebrate male sex-determination by inhibiting the development of the Müllerian ducts, and has been shown to be the master sex-determinant in the Patagonian pejerrey.


RESULTS
In the lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, both males and females share one copy of amh, however we have identified a second duplicate copy that appears solely in the male individuals. We have developed a PCR-based assay targeting the TGF-β domain of amh that provides a simple method with which to sex lingcod from a small amount of tissue. An analysis across 57 individuals gave a 100% success rate in identifying the phenotypic sex.


CONCLUSIONS
We present a simple method to sex lingcod through non-lethal tissue sampling. A third, independent, male-specific duplication of amh in a teleost fish has been identified in the lingcod.
Department of Biology, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N5, Canada.
Eric B
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6680-7961
EB
Rondeau
Department of Biology, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N5, Canada.
Cassandra V
CV
Laurie
Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7, Canada.
Stewart C
SC
Johnson
Department of Biology, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N5, Canada. bkoop@uvic.ca.
Ben F
BF
Koop
D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020440:Gene Duplication / Q000235:genetics; D020131:Genes, Duplicate; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors
D029941:Fish Proteins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Anti-Müllerian hormone; Lingcod; Müllerian inhibiting substance; Ophiodon elongatus; Sex determination; amh; mis