Methods are disclosed for non-invasively obtaining fetal cells from a pregnant female. The methods include placing an absorbent medium in an interlabial or intravaginal space or adjacent to the perineum at the vaginal opening of the pregnant female, and collecting vaginal fluid comprising cells in the absorbent medium while the absorbent medium is interlabial or intravaginal space or adjacent to the perineum at the vaginal opening. The absorbent medium is removed and cells are isolated from the absorbent medium to obtain the fetal cells. The fetal cells can be, for example, somatic cells, embroyic stem cells, fetal stem cells or trophoblast cells.

The present invention relates to methods of fertilization and gender determination and identification in avian subjects. More specifically, the invention provides non-invasive methods using transgenic avian animals that comprise at least one reporter gene, specifically, RFP, integrated into at least one gender chromosome Z or W. The transgenic avian animals of the invention are used for gender determination and selection of embryos in unhatched avian eggs.

The present invention relates to methods of fertilization and gender determination and identification in avian subjects. More specifically, the invention provides non-invasive methods using transgenic avian animals that comprise at least one reporter gene, specifically, RFP, integrated into at least one gender chromosome Z or W. The transgenic avian animals of the invention are used for gender determination and selection of embryos in unhatched avian eggs.

Crime scene investigators need to identify biological tissue or fluid types. Such analysis is typically done using conventional chemical, serological and enzymatic tests to identify the body fluid or tissue, however, these tests can be unreliable and often do not meet the specificity and sensitivity required for forensic analysis. The present invention provides a method for accurately identifying circulatory blood, saliva, spermatozoa, seminal fluid, menstrual fluid and vaginal material by detection of specific RNA sequences. In particular, the invention provides a method for determining the type of a biological sample, comprising the steps of detecting RNA from the sample associated with any one or more of HBD, SLC4A1, GYPA, FDCSP, HTN3, STATH, PRM1, TNP1, PRM2, KLK2, MSMB, TGM4, MMP10, STC1, MMP3, MMP11, CYP2B7P, Lactobacillus gasseri (L.gass) and Lactobacillus crispatus {L.crisp) and determining whether the sample is circulatory blood, saliva, spermatozoa, seminal fluid, menstrual fluid or vaginal material.

Crime scene investigators need to identify biological tissue or fluid types. Such analysis is typically done using conventional chemical, serological and enzymatic tests to identify the body fluid or tissue, however, these tests can be unreliable and often do not meet the specificity and sensitivity required for forensic analysis. The present invention provides a method for accurately identifying circulatory blood, saliva, spermatozoa, seminal fluid, menstrual fluid and vaginal material by detection of specific RNA sequences. In particular, the invention provides a method for determining the type of a biological sample, comprising the steps of detecting RNA from the sample associated with any one or more of HBD, SLC4A1, GYPA, FDCSP, HTN3, STATH, PRM1, TNP1, PRM2, KLK2, MSMB, TGM4, MMP10, STC1, MMP3, MMP11, CYP2B7P, Lactobacillus gasseri (L.gass) and Lactobacillus crispatus {L.crisp) and determining whether the sample is circulatory blood, saliva, spermatozoa, seminal fluid, menstrual fluid or vaginal material.

Novel Y-STR multiplex analysis designs, primer design, allelic ladders, methods of use and kits are disclosed, including the use of primer sets designed to provide amplicons for at least 11 Y-STR loci having a base pair size of less than about 220 bp, as well as the use of primer sets designed to provide amplicons for at least 22 Y-STR loci including at least 5 rapidly mutating loci.

Novel Y-STR multiplex analysis designs, primer design, allelic ladders, methods of use and kits are disclosed, including the use of primer sets designed to provide amplicons for at least 11 Y-STR loci having a base pair size of less than about 220 bp, as well as the use of primer sets designed to provide amplicons for at least 22 Y-STR loci including at least 5 rapidly mutating loci.

The present invention relates to a method for the detection of the presence or absence of at least one nucleic acid sequence specific for the sex of chicken using polymerase chain reaction in a high-throughput manner, a kit for conducting the method of the present invention and a pair of oligonucleotides.

The present invention relates to a method for the detection of the presence or absence of at least one nucleic acid sequence specific for the sex of chicken using polymerase chain reaction in a high-throughput manner, a kit for conducting the method of the present invention and a pair of oligonucleotides.

Provided are compositions and processes that utilize genomic regions that are differentially methylated between a mother and her fetus to separate, isolate or enrich fetal nucleic acid from a maternal sample. The compositions and processes described herein are particularly useful for non-invasive prenatal diagnostics, including the detection of chromosomal aneuploidies.