Sexing European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) with ZFX and ZFY loci

• Published in: Molecular Ecology Resources
• Main Authors: Fontanesi, L., Tazzoli, M., Robinson, T. J., Russo, V., Pecchioli, Elena, Hauffe, Heidi Christine
• Other Authors: Pecchioli, E., Hauffe, H.C., Robinson, T.J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Hare; Leporidae; Molecular sexing; Rabbit; ZFX; ZFY; Lepus timidus; mountain hare
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/20475; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02167.x

We describe a new method for the sex determination of tissue originating from Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit), Lepus europaeus (European brown hare) and Lepus timidus (mountain hare) based on PCR-RFLP analysis of point mutations that differentiate the ZFX and ZFY gene sequences. Among several applications, this PCR-RFLP method could be used to investigate gender ratio and evaluate the population dynamics of these species using samples collected when sex cannot be identified.