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Sexing the Sciuridae: a simple and accurate set of molecular methods to determine sex in tree squirrels, ground squirrels and marmots
Author(s) -
GORRELL JAMIESON C.,
BOUTIN STAN,
RAVEH SHIRLEY,
NEUHAUS PETER,
CÔTÉ STEEVE D.,
COLTMAN DAVID W.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2012.03165.x
Subject(s) - biology , sexing , genetics , sex linkage , evolutionary biology , zoology , chromosome , gene
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.