Novel genetic markers derived from the DNA fragments of Sox genes

With the pair of degenerate primers designed against the conserved regions of HMG-box of Sox gene family, DNA fragments of different sizes were obtained by amplifying the whole genome DNA samples of many animals, including natural fish, artificial hybrid fish, Aves, reptiles, amphibians and hexapods. Each sample was identified by the specific DNA-band pattern formed by the DNA fragments with defined number and size which marked the sample's genetic characteristics. In addition, 50 DNA fragments from 22 kinds of animals were sequenced and comparatively analyzed so as to study their genetic relationships, especially that between artificial hybrids and their original parents. Based on the specific DNA-band pattern and the specific DNA sequence obtained in tissue DNA sample, we established the novel genetic DNA markers derived from the DNA fragments of Sox genes. The present results proved that the novel DNA markers provided fast and accurate markers for different animal phylogenetic branches and that these convenient markers can also distinguish closely related species and hybrids using a single gene family tool.