A Reliable Molecular Method of Gender Determination for Mammals

A polymerase chain reaction-based method was developed for gender determination in a wide variety of marine and terrestrial mammals, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, ungulates, canids, and ursids. An intron within the zinc-finger x (Zfx) and zinc-finger y (Zfy) genes was amplified. Size variation between the Zfx and Zfy introns results in a Y-specific band in males. Size of the Zfy intron varies more across species than that of the Zfx intron. …