Sex Identification f Japanese Black Bear , on Amelogenin Gene thrsus thibetanusJ ' aponicus , by PCR based

sequencing of a part of the amelogenin gene. This gene is lecated on the X and Y chromosomes, and there are 54 nucleotide de]etions on the Y chromosome-specific gene. Forty-seven (26 ma]e and 21 female) DNA samples and 23 (13 ma}e and 1O female) DNA samples, respectively extracted from white blood cells and hairs ofJapanese black bears were analyzed, The primers SE47 and SE48 from this X-Y homologous region were used in sex identification by PCR arnplification. These primers amplified Xand Y-specific bands, which could be used to discrirninate between sexes by a length polymorphism in al] samp]es. We suggest that PCR amplifieation using the primers SE47 and SE48 is usefu1 for sex delermination of the Japanese black bear and could be applied to DNA analysis of small samples such as hairs. KEy woRDs: amelogenin gene, Japanese b]ack bear, polymerase chain reactien, sex identification.J. Vet. Med, Sci, 64(6): SOS-508, 2002