title: Utility of multi-gene loci for forensic species diagnosis of blowflies.
abstract: Contemporary studies in forensic entomology exhaustively evaluate gene sequences because these constitute the fastest and most accurate method of species identification. For this purpose single gene segments, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) in particular, are commonly used. However, the limitation of such sequences in identification, especially of closely related species and populations, demand a multi-gene approach. But this raises the question of which group of genes can best fulfill the identification task? In this context the utility of five gene segments was explored among blowfly species from two distinct geographic regions, China and Pakistan. COI, cytochrome b (CYTB), NADH dehydrogenase 5 (ND5), nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2), were sequenced for eight blowfly species including Chrysomya megacephala F. (Diptera: Calliphoidae), Ch. pinguis Walker, Lucilia sericata Meigen L. porphyrina Walker, L. illustris Meigen Hemipyrellia ligurriens Wiedemann, Aldrichina grahami Aldrich, and the housefly, Musca domestica L. (Muscidae), from Hangzhou, China; while COI, CYTB, and ITS2 were sequenced for four species, i.e. Ch. megacephala, Ch. rufifacies, L. cuprina, and the flesh fly, Sarcophaga albiceps Meigen (Sarcophagidae), from Dera Ismail Khan Pakistan. The results demonstrate a universal utility of these gene segments in the molecular identification of flies of forensic importance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China. zaidi_farrah@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Farrah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: Shu-jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xue-xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry*; D004175:Diptera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D014644:Genetic Variation; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045303:Cytochromes b; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV