Sex determination in Red deer (Ceruvus elaphus maral); suitable method for estimating the effective population size for genetic conservation programs in the country habitats

Abstract

Introduction: Unfortunately, due to the small population size and isolation of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in protected area-Arasbaran-Aynalu, there are inbreeding and the highly rate of bottleneck. For this purpose, the objective of this study was access and optimization techniques for Sex determination in Red deer (Ceruvus elaphus); suitable method for estimating the effective population size for genetic conservation programs in Arasbaran and the country habitats.

Materials & Methods: For this purpose, bleeding in deer, taken from jugular vein and tail vein after anesthesia, vacuum with ice -4°c to the gen bank of Department of East Azerbaijan was transferred. Duplex PCR using primers based on the chromosome (Y) in accordance with the sex-determining gene DEAD-box Y-linked protein (DBY) simultaneously used with BMC1009 locus were amplified as an internal control per each reaction.
Results: The results are reliable, there are two bands 280-310 (polymorphic band) and 180 base pairs (bp) in male deer and 280-310 (polymorphic band) base pairs (bp) in female deer showed. To confirm this, residual PCR products was applied for sequencing. Conclusion: Genotyping results showed that 8 females and 15 males were identified as indicators of effective population size 4, respectively.