Sex identification of some parrots

Abstract

Sex identification of sexually monomorphic avian species for captive breeding by morphological traits alone has a high risk of misidentification. Therefore, sex identification using molecular techniques are recommended. In contrast to mammals, avian females are the heterogametic sex (2 different sex chromosomes: ZW) and males are the homogametic sex (ZZ). Based on the intronic length polymorphism between two homologous Chromo-Helicase-DNA binding (CHD) genes on Z (CHD-Z) and W (CHD-W) chromosomes were used to determine sex of avian. In this study, genomic DNA was collected from blood using FTA card of Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis), Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata). Using the 2550F/2718R primers, the resulting polymerase chain reaction products showed clearly resolved fragments on a conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. These primers produced two amplified fragments (2 bands about 500 and 650-700 bp) for females due to intron length differences and only one amplified fragment (a single band about 650-700 bp) for males. Thus, this process allows for sex identification of parrots which essential for the success of captive breeding programs since there is no sexual dimorphism.