MOLECULAR-CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF THE SRY GENE FROM PIG

Mammalian embryos developing into males or females depend on whether t hey carry Y chromosomes or not. Because a gene existing on the Y chrom osome can induce indifferent gonad (genital ridge) to differentiate in to testicle (male), while lacking Y chromosome the gonad develops into ovary (female). This gene is named testis-determining factor (TDF) in humans, and testis-determining gene of Y in mice([1,2]). In 1990, Koo pman discovered a single copy gene encoding the conserved 80-amino-aci d that is situated on the area of the short arm of Y chromosome border ing on pseudo-autosomal. The gene is called sex-determining region of the Y (SRY). Further research indicated that SRY is TDF. Relevant scho lars also analyzed the sequences of the motifs of human, mouse and rab bit SRY genes, but the motif of swine SRY gene is still not reported([ 3-5]). To investigate the molecular structure and the site of the moti f of pig SRY, establish the procedure of sexing pig embryo, and provid e a quick, simple and exact method for sexing IVF embryo and embryo us ed for genetic manipulation, we separated pig SRY gene by PCR method, and cloned SRY into pUC19. The nucleotide sequencing and homological a nalysis was also carried out.