The application of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase II gene for the identification of forensically important blowflies in Western China.
Blowflies found on human corpses are important for the estimation of the postmortem interval and other questions of forensic relevance. Some of these species are difficult to differentiate morphologically, and therefore a molecular method was elaborated for species identification. Here, we describe a molecular method for rapid identification of these insects. Specific insect DNA fragments were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction, followed by direct DNA sequencing of the amplification products. Analysis of the cytochrome oxidase II sequences revealed abundant phylogenetically informative nucleotide substitutions that could identify blowfly species to species group. In contrast, because of the low level of sequence divergence of sister species, the data could not distinguish among taxa from the same species group, ie, the species within the Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina groups. The molecular data support the existing species group separation of the taxa within the Calliphora. Because of the speed and accuracy of current nucleotide sequencing technology and the abundant apomorphic substitutions available from mtDNA sequences, this approach enables quick identification of species used for estimation of postmortem interval.
Department of Lab Medicine, West China Hospital, People's Republic of China.
Bin Wu
BW
Ying
Ting Ting
TT
Liu
Hong
H
Fan
Dong
D
Wei
Fu Qiang
FQ
Wen
Peng
P
Bai
Jin
J
Huang
Yi Ping
YP
Hou
D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D004175:Diptera / Q000235:genetics*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D004772:Entomology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011180:Postmortem Changes
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV