How does the autosexing gene work?

[nicalandia]

"A much more accurate method of sexing in Rhode Island Red chicks at hatching was discovered by Homer Rowell, of Essex County, Massachusetts...
When the chicks are held so that both wings are outstretched, the difference is quite clear in all but those having down that is comparatively light in color. Wings of females are uniformly reddish. In males there is a white spot, the extent of which varies considerably in different chicks. In its smallest expression there is merely a short streak of white or creamy down in the prepatagium, or web of wing; but there is all graduations in size from that to extreme white or cream over the whole web and part of the anterior border of the metacarpal region...
With an accuracy of 90-95 percent in Rhode Island Reds and 80-90 percent in New Hampshires. Jaap found also that the accuracy of the procedure is increased in stock selected to enhance the difference between the sexes."
So now in my experiment I will use these methods in sexing and enhance them through selective breeding.

Thanks, keep us posted on your findings

A friend of mine is working with Wildtype based RIR(the e+ gene was sourced from his Rhodebar improvement project)