SEX DETERMINATION IN THE DOMESTIC PIG BY DNA AMPLIFICATION USING THE HMG-BOX SEQUENCE

We describe a rapid, reliable method for the sexing of domestic pigs ( Sus scrofa domestica) by amplification of Y-chromosome specific sequen ces in male genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oli gonucleotide primers were selected from a conserved sequence motif, th e HMG box, in the sequence of porcine Sry. These primers permit amplif ication of a defined 146 bp fragment only from male-specific genomic D NA. As a control, autosomal-specific primers were also used in the PCR reactions, recognising a sequence from a porcine homeobox gene that i s amplifiable in genomic DNA from both males and females. This sensiti ve method will find application in the sexing of biopsied, pre-implant ation embryos and foetuses used for the derivation of embryonic cell l ines and germ-cell derivatives, for use in the new biotechnologies; an d in the analysis of male-specific sequences in intersex pigs.