BACKGROUND One of the key tools for determining the social structure of wild and endangered primates is the ability to sex DNA from small amounts of non-invasive samples that are likely to include highly degraded DNA. Traditional markers for molecular sex determination of primates are developed on the basis of the human sequence and are often non-functional in distantly related primate species. Hence, it is highly desirable to develop markers that simultaneously detect Y- and X-chromosome specific sequences and also work across many species. RESULTS A novel method for sex identification in primates is described using a triple primer PCR reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis of the sex-chromosomal isoforms of the ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat protein gene (UTX/UTY). By comparing genomic data from several mammals we identified the UTX/UTY locus as the best candidate for a universal primate sexing marker. Using data from several species we identified a XY-conserved region, a Y conserved region and an X conserved region. This enabled the design of a triple primer PCR setup that amplifies X and Y products of different length in a single PCR reaction. CONCLUSION This simple PCR amplification of X and Y fragments is useful for sexing DNA samples from all species of primates. Furthermore, since the amplified fragments are very short the method can be applied to fragmented DNA extracted from non-invasive samples.

中文翻译：

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灵长类动物的快速无创PCR性别鉴定：猿，旧世界的猴子，新大陆的猴子和链霉菌素。

背景技术用于确定野生和濒临灭绝的灵长类动物的社会结构的关键工具之一是从少量可能包含高度降解的DNA的非侵入性样本中对DNA进行性别分析的能力。用于确定灵长类动物分子性别的传统标记是根据人类序列开发的，在远缘的灵长类动物中通常没有功能。因此，非常需要开发同时检测Y和X染色体特异性序列并在许多物种中起作用的标记。结果描述了一种使用三重引物PCR反应和无处不在转录的四三肽重复蛋白基因（UTX / UTY）的性染色体同工型的琼脂糖凝胶电泳对灵长类动物进行性别鉴定的新方法。通过比较几种哺乳动物的基因组数据，我们确定了UTX / UTY基因座是通用灵长类动物性别标记的最佳候选者。使用来自几种物种的数据，我们确定了XY保守区，Y保守区和X保守区。这样就可以设计出三重引物PCR装置，该装置可以在单个PCR反应中扩增不同长度的X和Y产物。结论这种X和Y片段的简单PCR扩增可用于对所有灵长类动物的DNA样品进行性别鉴定。此外，由于扩增的片段非常短，因此该方法可以应用于从非侵入性样品中提取的片段化DNA。这样就可以设计出三重引物PCR装置，该装置可以在单个PCR反应中扩增不同长度的X和Y产物。结论这种X和Y片段的简单PCR扩增可用于对所有灵长类动物的DNA样品进行性别鉴定。此外，由于扩增的片段非常短，因此该方法可以应用于从非侵入性样品中提取的片段化DNA。这使得设计三重引物PCR装置成为可能，该装置可在单个PCR反应中扩增不同长度的X和Y产物。结论这种X和Y片段的简单PCR扩增可用于对所有灵长类动物的DNA样品进行性别鉴定。此外，由于扩增的片段非常短，因此该方法可以应用于从非侵入性样品中提取的片段化DNA。