Thesis
AFLP markers demonstrate male heterogamety in a fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) population
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100259
Abstract
The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is an interesting study subject in environmental toxicology. To further develop its usefulness as a research aid, a genetic marker that can easily and quickly determine the sex of research subjects is necessary. Genetic analysis by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) of groups of fathead minnows from a research population demonstrated male heterogamety (an XX/XY method of sex determination). AFLP studies done on the individuals in the population also demonstrated male heterogamety. The male-specific bands were then removed from the AFLP gel, amplified and cloned into E. coli. Sequence analysis allowed for the creation of PCR primers that demonstrate specificity for male markers. This can be utilized by researchers to find the genetic sex of the fish in toxicological experiments where sex might have been affected by chemical treatments or other studies where phenotypic sex is not yet developed. When tested with fish from separate populations, we found that the sex marker did not reach species wide. This is not surprising based on what others have found in different fish species, but we have laid the groundwork for later studies that can expand the usefulness of this marker. This study demonstrated that information taken from AFLP can be utilized to create primers that can be utilized in genetic sex identification. Once a PCR primer can be made that works in the species at large, anyone interested in utilizing this species as a model organism for sex reversal would have useful tools. In order to provide a framework for later researchers, outbred fathead minnows have been sexed by histological methods and DNA has been extracted. These provide the necessary tools for researchers to test species wide markers.
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Details
- Title
- AFLP markers demonstrate male heterogamety in a fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) population
- Creators
- Daniel Joseph Mistak
- Contributors
- Gary H. Thorgaard (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Biosciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900525062701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis