A Simple Method for Sexing Chicken Embryos at Stage X

Abstract

A simple method for sexing chicken embryos was devised using DNA prepared from blastodermal cells. A cluster of cells was collected from the area opaca of a stage X blastoderm, and DNA was prepared by the boiling method (10-minute boiling and 3-minute centrifugation). DNA was also prepared by the extraction method (DNA extraction kit) as a control. PCR analysis was carried out using the prepared DNA, and the sex of embryos was clearly identified by both the boiling and extraction method. This simple and rapid method of embryo sexing using blastodermal cells isolated from the area opaca enables us to identify the sex of a large number of chicken embryos in a limited time.

Keywords

• blastodermal cell
• chicken embryo
• embryo culture
• pcr
• sexing