Genetics and Molecular Biology (Mar 2005)

Use of the TSPY gene for sexing cattle

  • Daniela Cristina Lemos,
  • Álvaro Fabrício Lopes Rios,
  • Lisandra Cristina Caetano,
  • Raysildo Barbosa Lôbo,
  • Reginaldo Aparecido Vila,
  • Lúcia Martelli,
  • Paula Lumy Takeuchi,
  • Ester Silveira Ramos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-47572005000100020
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 1
pp. 117 – 119

Abstract

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The Y-encoded, testis-specific protein (TSPY) is a Y-specific gene. The copy numbers of TSPY range from 20 to 60 in men and up to 200 in bulls. In this study, we examined the possibility of using the TSPY gene to sex cattle. DNA from blood samples of 100 Nelore cattle (50 males and 50 females) from the Nelore Cattle Breeding Program (PMGRN) was screened for TSPY by PCR using TSPY-specific primers. The assay was highly specific since all male samples were TSPY-positive and all female samples were negative. Positive results were also obtained at low DNA concentrations (less than 1 rhog/muL). These results showed that TSPY was a good male-specific marker, the usefulness of which was enhanced by the high copy number of the gene. This is the first report to demonstrate the applicability of TSPY for sexing cattle.

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