Identification of chimpanzee subspecies with DNA from hair and allele-specific probes.
We describe a non-invasive method of determining the subspecies identity of common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), based on subspecies-specific sequence differences in the mitochondrial genome. This procedure involves the extraction of DNA from hair, the amplification of a short (410 base pair (b.p.)) segment of the non-coding displacement loop (D-loop) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subspecies identification based on rapid allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probe dot-blot typing. This approach will contribute to: (i) the colony-level management of captive chimpanzees by enabling managers to recognize hybrids between subspecies and minimize outbreeding depression; (ii) the recognition of inappropriately matched individuals in comparative behavioural and experimental studies; and (iii) forensic questions surrounding the origin of illegally traded animals.
Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0116.
P A
PA
Morin
J J
JJ
Moore
D S
DS
Woodruff
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA