Sex identification in four leporid species (Lepus corsicanus, Lepus europaeus, Lepus timidus and Lepus capensis mediterraneus)

摘要

The sexes of mammals can be determined routinely by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of Y chromosome fragments or coamplification of homologous fragments from both sex chromosomes, which have distinct size polymorphism or Y-specific restriction sites. In juvenile leporid individual sex identification from morphological traits is not always reliable. Here we designed specific dye-labelled primers to amplify a SRY fragment together with a portion of the Transferrin gene. With a simple approach using double peaks in the electropherogram, upon direct sequencing of PCR products from males and females, we demonstrate the methodology's utility by the application to different leporid species (Lepus corsicanus, Lepus europaeus, Lepus timidus and Lepus capensis mediterraneus).