title: Intron variability in an actin gene can be used to discriminate between chicken and turkey DNA.
abstract: A novel one-step method for the differentiation of chicken and turkey DNA is described. The technique uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primers that exploit intron variability in α-cardiac actin to generate single products of a characteristic size for each species. No cross-reactivity with porcine, ovine or bovine DNA templates is apparent and analysis of chicken/turkey admixtures indicates that it is possible to detect 1% turkey in 99% chicken and vice versa. Because the test is based on a nuclear gene target, it forms a valuable complement to other methods based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.
authors: Division of Nutritional Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
authors: Andrew K
authors: AK
authors: Lockley
authors: Ronald G
authors: RG
authors: Bardsley