Scientists of Coimbra, the United Kingdom, Spain and Bulgaria are developing a method to determine the sex of species of penguins, faster, more accurate and less expensive than the techniques available.
“In a pioneering and interdisciplinary research, researchers at the University of Coimbra (UC), in collaboration with colleagues from three countries (United Kingdom, Spain and Bulgaria)”, are exploring “cytometry technique flow as a method to determine the sex of species of penguins, “today announced that institution.
The ‘flow cytometry’ is a technology” fast and accurate “, which allows” measure and evaluate a huge number simultaneously in cells and get detailed information about the behavior of each cell. “
The researchers involved in the study are also” assess the potential for applying this technique “to other animals, said a statement from UC today disclosed.
There are “a large number of animals that are difficult to distinguish males from females” and “to resolve this issue,” have been used “genetic techniques, usually expensive and require some time to get results, “says UC.
The results applied to samples of two species of penguins (‘gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua’ and ‘chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis antarctica’), revealed that,” compared with other techniques, flow cytometry allowed the correct identification of the sex of penguins in more than 80% of subjects, showing its promising character to identify the sex of animals with different sex chromosomes sizes. “
João Loureiro, lead author of the article published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology ‘, stresses that this work, which “emerged as a pilot study” revealed that the flow cytometry – “technique widely used in the clinical area” – can be “an excellent alternative methods in use as animal sexing by allowing obtain results faster and less expensive way”
For José Xavier, coordinator of scientific projects in Antarctica and senior author. same article points out that “this important work is part of national and international scientific programs in Antarctica where UC is involved, focused on understanding how the Southern Ocean can lead us to understand the effect of climate change, because what happens there can lead us to understand better what might happen in the rest of the world. “
This study” contributes significantly to developing better techniques applied science “, also maintains José Xavier.
In addition to João Loureiro and José Xavier, are also authors of the article Daniela Tavares, Sonia Ferreira, José Dry, Phil Trathan and James Valente.
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