Biotechnology: Finally, a sex test for birds

(UVAS) Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology: DNA test to determine bird's gender with 100 per cent reliability.

LAHORE:

A research team from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences’ (UVAS) Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (IBBT) has developed a DNA test to determine the gender of birds “with 100 per cent reliability”.

The phenotypic identification of sex in various species of birds can be very challenging, causing problems in pairing for breeders. The researchers “developed molecular markers that can detect gender using DNA information with 100 per cent reliability,” said a UVAS press release. IBBT Director Prof Masroor Elahi Baber said that the institute’s molecular biology and genomics lab had conducted various animal forensics tests to assist the police, courts and customs in solving cases.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.