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Eggshell
membranes as a noninvasive sampling for molecular studies of
Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis)
Yun Hu and Xiao-Bing Wu*
College of Life Sciences,
Anhui
Provincial Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation
of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal
University, Wuhu 241000, P.R. China.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
wuxb@mail.ahnu.edu.cn.
Tel: +86-553-3836873. Fax: +86-553-3836873.
Accepted 11 August, 2008 |
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Noninvasive sampling is of prime essential on
conservation genetics and molecular ecology. It is
particularly preferred to use in the genetic identification
of individuals and genetic analysis. A simple and efficient
sampling is described for molecular studies from eggshell
membranes in an endemic population of Chinese alligator (Alligator
sinensis). This sampling strategy is fast, inexpensive
and noninvasive to individuals. It could obtain large
amounts of high-quality nucleic acids, isolated from
different individuals. Amplification of mitochondrial and
microsatellite DNA loci was successful from eggshell
membrane in A. sinensis, after DNA extraction. These
results show that eggshell membranes as a noninvasive
sampling represent a reliable source of DNA for conservation
genetics in endangered reptiles.
Key words:
Eggshell membrane, noninvasive sampling, mtDNA,
microsatellite genotyping, Alligator sinensis. |
