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Cut feather containing rachis as a sampling way for avian sexing
Author(s) -
Wang LihChiann,
Chen ChiTsong,
Lee HsiaoYuan,
Li ShouHsien,
Lir JihnTsair,
Chin ShinChien,
Pu ChangEn,
Wang ChingHo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.20083
Subject(s) - feather , biology , sexing , zoology , genomic dna , endangered species , sampling (signal processing) , genetics , dna , ecology , habitat , filter (signal processing) , computer science , computer vision
Sex determination of birds is important to ensure successful breeding strategies, especially for endangered species. Most birds are vulnerable to stress during handling, however, so obtaining a sufficient amount of genomic DNA (gDNA) while causing the least amount of harm is a critical issue. Avian gender can be determined based on different CHD1 gene intron sizes in W and Z sex chromosomes. We have compared various specimen sources and have found that the rachis segment of a feather is a good DNA source for determining sex. This indicates that plucking the whole feather is not necessary; a cut feather including the rachis is a superior method because it decreases stress on the examined birds and is accomplished easily. Zoo Biol. 0:1–5, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.