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Establishing species-specific sexing markers suitable for non-invasive samples of species lacking genomic resources: an example using the highly endangered common hamster Cricetus cricetus

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Abstract

Here we present an approach to establish species-specific genetic markers for sex identification suitable for non-invasive samples. Such markers are not yet available for the endangered common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) because of the lack of genomic resources. Using Y chromosome conserved anchored tagged sequences (YCATS) exonic primers, we obtained Y-chromosomal sequences from hamsters and sympatric rodent species. From this, we designed hamster-specific primers targeting two short Y-chromosomal intron fragments and included them in microsatellite multiplex reactions, using autosomal loci also as amplification controls. The method yielded highly consistent results. The approach can be easily applied to development of sex markers in species for which there are no genome sequences available and thus aid conservation genetics efforts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany

    Tobias E. Reiners, Melanie Fuchs & Carsten Nowak

  2. School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 3AX, UK

    Frank Hailer

  3. Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Axel Janke

  4. Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Tobias E. Reiners & Axel Janke

Authors
  1. Tobias E. Reiners
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  2. Melanie Fuchs
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  3. Frank Hailer
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  4. Axel Janke
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  5. Carsten Nowak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tobias E. Reiners.

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Reiners, T.E., Fuchs, M., Hailer, F. et al. Establishing species-specific sexing markers suitable for non-invasive samples of species lacking genomic resources: an example using the highly endangered common hamster Cricetus cricetus . Conservation Genet Resour 9, 253–255 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-016-0664-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-016-0664-2

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