Identification of Carnivore Animal Species by Using mt DNA PCR Technique

Abstract

The present work was carried out on blood samples of leopard, wolf and tiger in Maharaj Bagh Zoo, Nagpur and Government Polyclinic, Chandarpur for their identification by using mt DNA PCR technique. The DNA was isolated from blood samples of tiger, leopard and wolf by standard methods of Proteinase K digestion, phenolchloroform extraction and DNA precipitation in ethanol. The DNA yield ranged from 100 μg to 400 μg from 1 ml of blood samples. Isolated DNA was subjected to PCR assay to amplify gene fragment of different size in different species by using established species-specific forward and reverse primers. The amplified PCR products from the animals were found to range from 110 to 243 bps. The band pattern for tiger, leopard and wolf was produced at 217, 110 and 278 bps, respectively indicating a clear-cut demarcation among the animals. There was no cross species amplification in any of the reaction. The results of the present study indicated that the species specific primer
would be useful in identification of carnivore animal species.