A simple PCR method for sexing Japanese quail Coturnix japonica at hatching

ABSTRACT

1. The quail is a potentially important avian model for molecular studies; a major drawback is the inability to sex visually before 3 weeks of age. Molecular sexing is therefore an absolute requirement when animals are sampled before that age.

2. A low-cost method using common laboratory equipment based on Allele-Specific Multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction was developed to undertake reliable molecular identification of the sex of Coturnix japonica directly at hatching.

3. This simple method works with down feathers collected from behind the neck of the newly hatched quail and includes internal controls during the PCR to limit risks of error. Males and females can be discriminated on the basis of the presence of one or two amplicons, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexing
• molecular biology
• quail
• gender
• feather
• chick

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the INRA PHASE (Animal Physiology and Livestock Systems) division and by the ANR JCJC “QuailHeatE” Research Program (ANR-15-CE02-0009-01). The authors thank Thierry Bordeau and Sabine Crochet for their technical help, and David Gourichon, Joël Delaveau, Frédéric Mercerand, Christophe Rat, Nathalie Couroussé, Aurore Jacques, Yann Emmelin, Virgile Clede and Sandrine Rivière for their collaboration in the collection of samples. The authors also wish to thank Cécile Berri, Yves Bigot and Frédérique Pitel for their critical reading of the manuscript and Doreen Raine (Surrey, UK) for revision of the English language.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

supplemental material

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Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the INRA PHASE (Animal Physiology and Livestock Systems) division and by the ANR JCJC “QuailHeatE” Research Program [ANR-15-CE02-0009-01].