Group‐specific polymerase chain reaction for DNA‐based analysis of species diversity and identity in dietary samples
- 12 March 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Ecology
- Vol. 13 (5) , 1313-1322
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02109.x
Abstract
Unique DNA sequences are present in all species and can be used as biomarkers for the detection of cells from that species. These DNA sequences can most easily be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which allows very small quantities of target DNA sequence to be amplified even when the target is mixed with large amounts of nontarget DNA. PCR amplification of DNA markers that are present in a wide range of species has proven very useful for studies of species diversity in environmental samples. The taxonomic range of species to be identified from environmental samples may often need to be restricted to simplify downstream analyses and to ensure that less abundant sequences are amplified. Group‐specific PCR primer sets are one means of specifying the range of taxa that produce an amplicon in a PCR. We have developed a range of group‐specific PCR primers for studying the prey diversity found in predator stomach contents and scats. These primers, their design and their application to studying prey diversity and identity in predator diet are described.Keywords
This publication has 42 references indexed in Scilit:
- Biological identifications through DNA barcodesProceedings Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2003
- Novel universal primers establish identity of an enormous number of animal species for forensic applicationMolecular Ecology Notes, 2002
- Oligonucleotide Primers for PCR Amplification of Coelomate IntronsMarine Biotechnology, 2002
- Group-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification of SSU rRNA-encoding gene fragments from 12 microbial taxaMolecular Ecology Notes, 2002
- Fungal specific primers for PCR‐amplification of mitochondrial LSU in lichensMolecular Ecology Notes, 2002
- Genetic identification of asteroid larvae from Tasmania, Australia, by PCR–RFLPMolecular Ecology, 1998
- Postglacial connection of the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and its relation to the timing of sapropel formationPaleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, 1997
- A PRELIMINARY PHYLOGENETIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE DYAKIIDAE (GASTROPODA: STYLOMMATOPHORA) AND A BIOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF OTHER SUNDALAND TAXACladistics, 1995
- Which Whales Are Hunted? A Molecular Genetic Approach to Monitoring WhalingScience, 1994
- Basic local alignment search toolJournal of Molecular Biology, 1990