Ivory identification by dna profiling of cytochrome b gene

Lee, J. and Hsieh, H.M. and Huang, L.H. and Kuo, Y.C. and Wu, J.H. and Chin, S.C. and Lee, A.H. and Linacre, A.M.T. (2009) Ivory identification by dna profiling of cytochrome b gene. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 123 (2). pp. 117-121. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0264-0)

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Abstract

Ivory can be visually identified in its native form as coming from an elephant species; however, determining from which of the three extant elephant species a section of ivory originates is more problematic. We report on a method that will identify and distinguish the protected and endangered elephant species, Elephas maximus or Loxodonta sp. To identify the species of elephant from ivory products, we developed three groups of nested PCR amplifications within the cytochrome b gene that generate amplification products using highly degraded DNA isolated from confiscated ivory samples dating from 1995. DNA from a total of 382 out of 453 ivory samples were successfully isolated and amplified leading to species identification. All sequences were searched against GenBank and found to match with E. maximus and Loxodonta sp. with at least 99% similarity. The samples that were tested came from eight Asian elephants, 14 African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), and 360 African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana). This study demonstrates a high success rate in species identification of ivory by a nested PCR approach within the cytochrome b gene which provides the necessary information for the protection of endangered species conservation.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:19283
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    March 2009
    Published
    Notes:Strathprints' policy is to record up to 8 authors per publication, plus any additional authors based at the University of Strathclyde. More authors may be listed on the official publication than appear in the Strathprints' record.
    Subjects:Medicine > Pharmacy and materia medica
    Department:Faculty of Science > Pure and Applied Chemistry
    Depositing user: Strathprints Administrator
    Date deposited:13 Aug 2010 15:45
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 09:25
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/19283
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