Amplification of the CHD1 Gene for Molecular Sexing of Birds using Touchdown-PCR

Author(s): Hernández-Olicón Aura Patricia, Palma-Irizarry M, Santiago-Hernández Juan Carlos, Lozano-García Carlos, Carreño-Durán Luis R

Birds are a vertebrated group with great ecological importance, it is estimated that 13% of species in the world are at risk of survival. Molecular monitory is an indispensable tool for wild populations conservation. CHD1 gene amplification through PCR has been commonly used for such purpose, however, it is essential to evaluate the primer set CHD1F/CHD1R applicability in a great diversity of species. Individuals from 11 different species of the Galliformes order were sexed, with the use of a touchdown PCR, the amplification products were observed in a 3% agarose gel, male specimens presented a single band corresponding to the CHD1-Z gene, while female specimens presented two bands corresponding to CHD1-Z and CHD1-W genes. The CHD1F/CHD1R primer set, with the use of a touchdown PCR, allowed the differentiation between two highly homologous genes and was efficient in sexing 11 selected species from the Galliformes order belonging to “El Nido” aviary.