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Sex Determination Using RNA-Sequencing Analyses in Early Prenatal Pig Development
Susana A Teixeira1, Adriana M G Ibelli2, Maurício E Cantão2
1Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil.
Genes
|December 11, 2019
Summary
Researchers identified pig embryo sex using Y-chromosome gene expression from transcriptome data. This RNA-sequencing method allows early sex differentiation without additional techniques, aiding animal science and developmental studies.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Sexual dimorphism impacts economically important traits in livestock.
- Early prenatal development stages may lack observable phenotypic sex differences.
- Transcriptome analysis offers potential for non-invasive sex determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if sex differentiation in pig conceptuses can be achieved using transcriptome data.
- To identify specific Y-chromosome linked genes for accurate sex identification.
- To establish a method for early sex determination in pigs via RNA-sequencing.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed RNA-sequencing data from pig conceptuses at 25 and 35 days of gestation.
- Quantified reads counts per million (CPM) for ten specific Y-chromosome linked genes.
- Established a threshold (ΣCPMchrY > 400 for males, < 2 for females) for sex classification.
Main Results:
- Successfully differentiated male and female pig conceptuses based on Y-chromosome gene expression levels.
- Demonstrated that sex identification is feasible at early developmental stages (25 and 35 days).
- The identified method using CPM of Y-linked genes proved effective for sex determination.
Conclusions:
- RNA-sequencing analysis of Y-chromosome genes enables early sex identification in pig development.
- This method bypasses the need for traditional, invasive techniques.
- Pigs serve as a valuable model for studying conserved mammalian sex determination mechanisms, including human prenatal development.
