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Non‐invasive genetic identification of small mammal species using real‐time polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
MORAN S.,
TURNER P. D.,
O’REILLY C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02324.x
Subject(s) - biology , shrew , cytochrome b , polymerase chain reaction , mitochondrial dna , mammal , population , dna , nuclear dna , gene , genetics , zoology , demography , sociology
DNA identification of non‐invasive samples is a potentially useful tool for monitoring small mammal species. Here we describe a novel method for identifying five small mammal species: wood mouse, bank vole, common shrew, pygmy shrew and water shrew. Species‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction primers were designed to amplify fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from hair and scat samples. We also amplified nuclear DNA from scats, demonstrating their potential as a source of DNA for population genetic studies.