title: Application of species-specific polymerase chain reaction in the forensic identification of tiger species.
abstract: Globally, tigers are considered to be endangered, and are listed on Appendix I of CITES. A simple test, using a species-specific primer pair, was developed to identify tiger meat, faeces and dried skin, and provide forensic evidence of illegal wildlife trade. The specific fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was also successfully amplified from raw DNA products extracted from single tiger hairs. This PCR-based approach opens a new avenue to forensic identification of less-than-optimal samples.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Conservation Genetics and Reproductive Biology for Endangered Wild Animals, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Sheng-Guo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000235:genetics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004247:DNA