A simple sexing test for elephant species and its application to faecal DNA

Stéphanie Bourgeois; K Ouitavon; P Kongmee; T Veeramaethaphan; J Kaden; R McEwing

doi:10.1007/s13353-021-00627-2

A simple sexing test for elephant species and its application to faecal DNA

J Appl Genet. 2021 Sep;62(3):507-509. doi: 10.1007/s13353-021-00627-2. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Authors

Stéphanie Bourgeois^{1

2

3}, K Ouitavon⁴, P Kongmee⁴, T Veeramaethaphan⁴, J Kaden⁵, R McEwing⁶

Affiliations

¹ Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, B.P. 20379, Libreville, Gabon. stephbourgeois_@hotmail.com.
² WildGenes Laboratory, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS, UK. stephbourgeois_@hotmail.com.
³ Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK. stephbourgeois_@hotmail.com.
⁴ Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁵ WildGenes Laboratory, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS, UK.
⁶ TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, PO Box 17477, Edinburgh, EH12 1NY, UK.

PMID: 33759056
DOI: 10.1007/s13353-021-00627-2

Abstract

We developed a novel real-time PCR assay for rapid sexing in all three elephant species, which amplifies small fragments of the orthologous sexual chromosome zinc finger protein genes ZFX/ZFY (65 bp). This assay is a simple, inexpensive and reliable tool that is suitable for non-invasive DNA samples and can be incorporated into larger SNP panels for individual identification and population genetic studies.

Keywords: Elephant; KASP probe; Sexing; ZFX/ZFY.

MeSH terms

Animals
DNA
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
Elephants* / genetics
Feces
Female
Male
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary*
Sex Determination Analysis*
Zinc Fingers

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
DNA

Grants and funding

FED/2013/332-349/European Union