Isolation and characterization of two male-specific DNA fragments from the bovine gene.

Two independent male-specific DNA fragments were isolated from the bovine genome by the technique of cloning by deletion enrichment. Each is represented in the order of one to five copies per haploid genome. Neither fragment was found to be polymorphic between two individuals of different breeds with 12 different restriction enzymes. A 'zoo blot' demonstrated that one fragment had a closely related sequence in the sheep genome, although no other hybridizing sequences were detected in a variety of animal DNAs tested with both probes. The DNA sequence of each fragment is presented; one fragment has a continuous open reading frame and a potential Z-DNA forming region.