The SRY gene of the Y chromosome successfully identifies gender of endemic Mexican shrews (Mammalia: Soricomorpha)

Abstract In shrews, it is difficult to identify the gender of an individual if it is not reproductively active. An alternative that has already been successfully tested in other mammals is using a molecular marker such as the SRY gene of the Y chromosome of males. This study aims to identify the sex in shrews through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the SRY gene of Mexican endemic shrews (Cryptotis, Sorex and Megasorex). PCR products were sequenced and compared through the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST). Male tissues produced a 202-bp DNA fragment for Cryptotis, a 155-bp fragment for Sorex and a 189-bp fragment for Megasorex; no female sample of any of the three species produced a positive amplification. Therefore, the sex of these shrew species was successfully identified. This is particularly useful for immature individuals or incomplete specimens found in pitfall traps. These results may be valuable to ecological studies and benefit conservation actions of threatened taxa.

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