Rapid identification of sex in birds by flow cytometry

Nakamura, Daisuke; Tiersch, Terrence R.; Douglass, Michael; Chandler, Robert W.

doi:10.1159/000132930

Cited by 60 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It is likely that the small amount of variation reflects simple measurement error rather than chromosome-level differences between sexes which can be detected using methods such as flow cytometry (cf. Nakamura et al 1990;Tiersch & Mumme 1993). The mean genome size estimate for the passerines surveyed in this study is 1.32G0.08 pg.…”

Section: Results (A) Summary Of the Datasetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome size and wing parameters in passerine birds

2008

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Despite their status as the most speciose group of terrestrial vertebrates, birds exhibit the smallest and least variable genome sizes among tetrapods. It has been suggested that this is because powered flight imposes metabolic constraints on cell size, and thus on genome size. This notion has been supported by analyses of genome size and cell size versus resting metabolic rate and other parameters across birds, but most previous studies suffer from one or more limitations that have left the question open. The present study provides new insights into this issue through an examination of newly measured genome sizes, nucleus and cell sizes, body masses and wing parameters for 74 species of birds in the order Passeriformes. A positive relationship was found between genome size and nucleus/cell size, as well as between genome size and wing loading index, which is interpreted as an indicator of adaptations for efficient flight. This represents the single largest dataset presented for birds to date, and is the first to analyse a distinctly flight-related parameter along with genome size using phylogenetic comparative analyses. The results lend additional support to the hypothesis that the small genomes of birds are indeed related in some manner to flight, though the mechanistic and historical bases for this association remain an interesting area of investigation.

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Section: Results (A) Summary Of the Datasetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome size and wing parameters in passerine birds

2008

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“…Other results were shown by Nakamura et al (1990). These authors compared samples from three inbred strains (one male and one female from each strain) and an F1 hybrid (eleven males and seven females) running separately in FCM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Using CRBC as cytometry standard, genome size was measured in plants (Johnston et al 1999;Bennett et al 2003;Roux et al 2003), animals (Tiersch et al 1989;Nakamura et al 1990;Fritz et al 1994;Capparelli et al 1997;Bennett et al 2003), and humans (Palissot et al 1996). Different 2C DNA content mean values have been reported for CRBCs, such as 2.50 pg (Rasch et al 1971), 2.33 pg (Galbraith et al 1983), 2.50 pg (Tiersch et al 1989), and 2.47 pg (Tiersch and Wachtel 1991).…”

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confidence: 99%

DNA Content Differences Between Male and Female Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) Nuclei and Z and W Chromosomes Resolved by Image Cytometry

Mendonça

Carvalho

2009

J Histochem Cytochem.

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S U M M A R Y Chicken red blood cells (CRBCs) are widely used as standards for DNA content determination. Cytogenetic data have shown that the Z sex chromosome is approximately twice as large as the W, so that the DNA content differs to some extent between male (ZZ) and female (ZW) chickens. Despite this fact, male and female CRBCs have been indiscriminately used in absolute genome size determination. Our work was conducted to verify whether the DNA content differences between male and female Gallus gallus domesticus "Leghorn" nuclei and ZZ/ZW chromosomes can be resolved by image cytometry (ICM). Air-dried smears stained by Feulgen reaction were used for nuclei analysis. Chicken metaphase spreads upon Feulgen staining were analyzed for obtaining quantitative information on the Z and W chromosomes. Before each capture session, we conducted quality control of the ICM instrumentation. Our results from nuclear measurements showed that the 2C value is 0.09 pg higher in males than in females. In chromosomes, we found that the Z chromosome shows 200% more DNA content than does the W chromosome. ICM demonstrated resolution power to discriminate low DNA content differences in genomes. We suggest prudence in the general use of CRBC 2C values as standards in comparative cytometric analysis. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:229-235, 2010)

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“…Various techniques have been employed for sex determination of monomorphic birds such as laparotomy (Risser 1971), laparoscopy (Richner 1989), flow cytometry (Nakamura et al 1990), karyotyping (Hatzofe and Getreide 1990) and Raman spectroscopy (Harz et al 2008) but molecular methods based on DNA analysis are most prevalent (Fridolfsson and Ellegren 1999). Except for the ratites, that have undifferentiated sex chromosomes, all male birds are homogametic with ZZ sex chromosomes and females are heterogametic with ZW sex chromosomes (Ellegren 1996; Griffiths et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular sexing of threatened Gyps vultures: an important strategy for conservation breeding and ecological studies

et al. 2012

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During the last two decades populations of three resident species of Gyps vulture have declined dramatically and are now threatened with extinction in South Asia. Sex identification of vultures is of key importance for the purpose of conservation breeding as it is desirable to have an equal sex ratio in these monogamous species which are housed together in large colony aviaries. Because vultures are monomorphic, with no differences in external morphology or plumage colour between the sexes, other methods are required for sex identification. Molecular methods for sex identification in birds rely on allelic length or nucleotide sequence discrimination of the chromohelicase-DNA binding (CHD) gene located on male and female chromosomes ZZ and ZW, respectively. We characterized the partial sequences of CHD alleles from Gyps indicus, Gyps bengalensis, Gyps himalayensis and Aegypius monachus and analysed the applicability of five molecular methods of sex identification of 46 individual vultures including 26 known-sex G. bengalensis and G. indicus. The results revealed that W-specific PCR in combination with ZW-common PCR is a quick, accurate and simple method, and is ideal for sex identification of vultures. The method is also suitable to augment ecological studies for identifying sex of these endangered birds during necropsy examinations especially when gonads are not apparent, possibly due to regression during non-breeding seasons.

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Rapid identification of sex in birds by flow cytometry

Cited by 60 publications

References 7 publications

Genome size and wing parameters in passerine birds

Genome size and wing parameters in passerine birds

DNA Content Differences Between Male and Female Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) Nuclei and Z and W Chromosomes Resolved by Image Cytometry

Molecular sexing of threatened Gyps vultures: an important strategy for conservation breeding and ecological studies

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