Sexing the Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana by PCR Using a Single Plucked Feather as a Source of DNA

Abstract

A small amount of DNA extracted from a single plucked contour feather from four captive young Oriental White Storks Ciconia boyciana, a sexually monomorphic bird, was used for gender determination by the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on its sex chromosome-specific DNA sequences, the 0.6-kb Xba I -HindIII fragment(XH0.6) on the W chromosome and the region homologous to the XH0.6sequence (XH0.6-RSM) on the Z chromosome. After the agarose gel electrophoresis of the PCR products, two bands which correspond to the W and Z chromosome-specific fragments were observed from the female DNA. By contrast only one Z chromosome-specific fragment was observed from the male DNA. These results were consistent with those obtained by Southern blot hybridization using the DNA from red blood cells and the discriminant analysis of body measurements. This PCR method using a single feather is easy, fast, accurate, and also relatively stress-less to the birds which are not used to being handled for sampling. It will become one of useful tools in the captive propagation program and reintroduction plan for the C. boyciana, a special natural monument of Japan.