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A new PCR assay for reliable molecular sexing of endangered Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) from non-invasive genetic samples

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Abstract

Sex identification is a critical component of threatened species monitoring programs. For cryptic, rare and endangered species that have low detection probabilities, efficient monitoring can be achieved by analysing non-invasively collected DNA with molecular genetic techniques. In this study, we report a multiplex PCR-based sexing assay for the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). The assay uses a new species-specific primer set that amplifies a fragment of the SRY gene and an autosomal microsatellite marker as an internal positive control. We show that this assay provides highly accurate and robust sex identification (99% accuracy [95%CI 96.5–0.99.8]) where sex could be assigned of devil DNA from tissue, hair and faeces. This simple, yet reliable sexing assay is an important step towards effective monitoring and management of Tasmanian devils.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program for providing genetic samples and Monica Ruibal and Liz Murchison for providing sequence data. Funding was provided by The Ian Potter Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, 7000, TAS, Australia

    Shelly Lachish, Abraham Passmore & Menna Jones

  2. Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

    Shelly Lachish

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  1. Shelly Lachish
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  2. Abraham Passmore
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  3. Menna Jones
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Correspondence to Shelly Lachish.

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Lachish, S., Passmore, A. & Jones, M. A new PCR assay for reliable molecular sexing of endangered Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) from non-invasive genetic samples. Conservation Genet Resour 3, 279–281 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-010-9341-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-010-9341-z

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