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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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20141
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Subject: Animal Biochemistry × Author: PRASHANT UDAGATTI × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    MOLECULAR SEXING OF GREEN-CHEEKED CONURE (PYRRHURA MOLINAE) USING CHD1 AND NIPBL GENES
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, POOKODE WAYANAD, 2014) PRASHANT UDAGATTI; Shynu M.
    Sexing in birds is important for behavioral and ecological studies and also to improveex situ captive breeding programme. More than 50% of the world’s avian population are monomorphic and are difficult to sex phenotypically. Some avian species exhibit marked sexual dimorphism as adults, but lack dimorphism as juveniles. Monomorphic nature of many pet birds creates problems for pet breeders in identifying the sex. Traditional methods of avian sexing were based on behavioral observations, difference in size and shape, differences in the sounds produced, cloacal examination, surgical techniques and cytogenetic analysis. Most of them are time consuming, invasive and often generate ambiguous results. In the present study, PCR based techniques were used to identify the sex of a popular pet bird, Pyrrhura molinae (Green-cheeked conure), which is monomorphic in nature. The gene CHD1 (encoding chromo helicase- DNA-binding protein 1) is located in both the sex chromosomes, Z and W of birds.Intron 9 of CHDI gene was amplified by PCR technique in DNA isolated from the feather. Retroposon insertion in the region of amplification in Z chromosome generated a larger fragment. As female birds are heterogametic (ZW) PCR amplification generated fragments of two different sizes- 1100 bp and 600 bp, whereas in male birds (ZZ), only a single fragment of 1100 bp was observed. It revealed two different patterns in male and female birds which help to identify the sex accurately. Intron 16 region of CHDI gene was also amplified to see for sex specific difference in amplicon pattern between male and female birds. Though five out of thirty birds generated distinct amplification pattern rest of the birds did not generate unambiguous results. The result was similar for NIPBL intron 16 also. It appears that amplification of CHD1 intron 9 region is the most reliable method in sexing of green cheeked conure. As the method is non-invasive, it produces minimum stress to the bird and can be employed for easy and accurate sexing of the bird.