Malays. Appl. Biol. (2015) 44(4): 27-30
A NON-INVASIVE TECHNIQUE FOR SEX DETERMINATION OF MONOMORPHIC BIRDS
JESSEY ANGAT 1 AND FARIDA ZURAINA MD YUSOF 1,2
1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2Research Fellow, Centre for Biodiversity & Sustainable Development, UiTM
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ABSTRACT
We report on the unambiguous identification of monomorphic bird from a freshly pluck feather in Gunung Ledang, Taman Negara, Johor. Genetic analysis accurately recognizes gender by comparing the intron length between CHDZ and CHDW that is preserved within the avian Z and W sex chromosomes. The species under study were Stripe-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni), Olive-winged Bulbul (Pycnonotus plumosus), White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) and Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia). PCR amplification using P2/P8 primer pairs produced single band in male (ZZ) and two bands in female (ZW) birds that were ranged between 300-400 base pair. The PCR products were confirmed by the preliminary experiment of known sex of both species of polymorphic birds. Thus, this PCR-based test is fast, accurate and applicable in these species. Therefore, it could be used for many conservation studies notably in threatened or rare species.
Key words: CHD genes, non-invasive, molecular sexing, monomorphic bird, P2/P8
