A simple strategy for improving bird sexing from highly degraded DNA samples

Authors：Morinha, Francisco^*; Bautista, Luis M; Monteiro, Marlene; Alonso, Juan C

Source：Conservation Genetics Resources, 2019, 11(4): 393-396.

DOI：10.1007/s12686-018-1030-3

• Birds
• Sex-linked markers
• Molecular sexing
• Degraded DNA
• Real-time PCR
• Grus grus

A simple methodology was developed to select new sex-specific primers for bird sexing from degraded and low-quantity DNA sources. The strategy was validated using highly degraded DNA extracted from Giemsa-stained blood smears of common cranes (Grus grus). The new primers allowed the accurate molecular sexing using (i) a classic approach of PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis and (ii) an advanced real-time PCR method. The simplicity, speed and low cost make this methodology a versatile molecular tool for selection of novel markers/primers for bird sex differentiation from complex DNA sources, which can be used as basis or complement in several fields of ornithological research.

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