Falcon DNA Test Quick Notes
- Turnaround time: 8 working days
- The mother is required to participate in the test
- Not suitable for hybrid species – pure peregrine and gyrfalcons only
- Ideal sampling material: blood
- The basic price includes one time analysis of the profiles created from each sample to determine parentage.
- For an extra charge, DNA can be stored to be used in future parentage tests if required.
A falcon DNA test to determine parentage is a powerful tool for breeders and owners, allowing the determination of genetic links between a chick and its parents.
The service starts at £147.60 (incl. VAT) and includes one chick, the mother and one potential father. If you required additional chicks or potential fathers to participate in the test that is not a problem, these can be added on individually.
The basic price includes one time analysis of the profiles created from each sample to determine parentage. If you would like us to store the DNA for future parentage testing, please see further information below.
We are able to carry out DNA testing to determine genetic relationships for peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons. Falcon parentage testing can be carried out at any age. We can even use the eggshell membrane after the chick has hatched and confirm the sex of the chick for you too. Find out more about our DNA sexing service here.
Please note that this service unfortunately cannot be used to determine parentage for hybrid species.
How does a falcon DNA test work?
Making use of a special technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), we are able to copy all the regions of DNA we require for a falcon DNA test to determine parentage.
chXout uses eleven DNA markers to carry out the parentage analysis.
We make use of PCR to copy multiple highly variable regions, known as short tandem repeats (STR’s). By copying and analysing these regions we are able to produce a DNA profile for each individual bird.
Click on me to see my DNA profile!
Each individual has two alleles (variations between individual sections of DNA) at each DNA marker. One of these is inherited from the mother and the other from the father. In your report these are shown as a number which represents the allele size from the DNA profile (highlighted blue in the DNA profile example above).
Similarly to a human paternity test, we are then able to compare the DNA profiles of the chick and mother to rule out the alleles inherited maternally.
By process of elimination, we are then left with the alleles corresponding to the alleged father. If the remaining alleles match at each marker, we can conclusively say that the tested male is the biological father of the chick.
Instructions
- Collect a blood, feather or egg membrane sample using the Sampling Instructions document. For a feather sample we require at least 6 plucked feathers. We are unable to accept a mouth swab for a parentage test.
- Ensure that your samples are sealed securely and labelled correctly.
- Package your samples safely, including your client reference for identification.
- Send your samples to us at chXout, The Durham Genome Centre, Park House, Station Road, Lanchester, DH7 0EX.
When your sample arrives with us, you will receive an email to confirm sample receipt and expected due date.
We do not operate on weekends or bank holidays and the day your sample is logged at our laboratory is considered “day 0.”
Results are provided within 8 working days by email with a report as a PDF attachment.
DNA Storage For Future Tests
The basic price includes one time analysis of the profiles created from each sample to determine parentage.
For a small additional charge, we can store the DNA to be used as part of future parentage testing cases.
If you have used the chXout parentage testing service prior to 2025, please contact us for further information.
Falcon DNA Test FAQs
The mother's sample is used to rule out the maternally inherited alleles to check if the remaining alleles correspond with the potential father.
Currently there are eleven DNA markers used to confirm falcon parentage. If there was an instance where the potential male parents were closely related enough to not be able to confirm a result due to the similarity of the DNA profiles at those particular markers, this would be explained clearly in the report. Falcon parentage is not quite yet at the same stage as that of dogs and other animals, where additional markers are available to carry out extended parentage testing.
If you are aware of or suspect that any potential male parents may be closely related it is always useful to notify us so that we have all of the information when completing the analysis.
If you have used the chXout parentage service in the past, we will honour the payment made. However we may require you to send in a new sample for testing (particularly as we have added new DNA markers into the panel recently).
Please note that this service unfortunately cannot be used to determine parentage for hybrid species.
In this case, we can extract the DNA from the samples that we do have and hold it ready to complete the rest of the steps in the process when we have the remaining samples. This means that the DNA is extracted while the sample is still at its best and we can store it appropriately until needed.
