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Identification of marine invertebrate larvae by means of PCR‐RAPD species‐specific markers
Author(s) -
Coffroth Mary Alice,
Mulawka John M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1995.40.1.0181
Subject(s) - biology , rapd , gorgonian , marine invertebrates , identification (biology) , larva , polymerase chain reaction , zoology , ecology , genetics , gene , coral , genetic diversity , population , demography , sociology
We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to randomly amplify polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to identify species‐specific genetic markers for five species of gorgonian corals. Using PCR‐RAPDs, we can identify adult gorgonians as well as larvae collected in the field. This technique can be applied to any organism in which identification based on morphologic traits is difficult. Identification of larvae allows more detailed studies of early life histories of marine organisms and studies of the subsequent effects on the dynamics and genetic structure of adult populations.