title: A novel method for identifying shahtoosh.
abstract: Shahtoosh, the down hair of the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), is the noblest and most expensive wool in the world. The population of the animal has declined dramatically due to commercial poaching for the fiber. Traditional inspection for detection of shahtoosh has been performed by microscopic analysis. We developed a TaqMan real-time PCR-based DNA analysis method for identifying shahtoosh fibers. A set of probe and primers for the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene that binds specifically to Tibetan antelope DNA was designed. A signal was detected with sensitivity to the 1:10,000 dilution of shahtoosh DNA. A fiber mixture of 1% of shahtoosh mixed with cashmere and even a single fiber can be detected with this method. The method is faster, more cost-effective and more sensitive than other traditional sequencing methods and can be directly applied to identify shahtoosh and its processed products, which will be of value in illegal trade investigations.
authors: Shanghai Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shanghai, P.R.C., No. 1208, Minsheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Fei
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Zhou
authors: Minfeng
authors: M
authors: Tang
authors: Weiming
authors: W
authors: Lu
authors: An
authors: A
authors: Yan
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Hou
authors: Shuyu
authors: S
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000235:genetics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D008853:Microscopy; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D014935:Wool / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C075526:RNA, ribosomal, 12S
keywords: DNA; TaqMan polymerase chain reaction; Tibetan antelope; forensic science; shahtoosh; species identify