Chapter 6 - Seafood Species Identification Using DNA Sequencing

Abstract

DNA sequencing using the Sanger method is well established for seafood species identification and is widely used to detect seafood mislabeling on the commercial market. This method provides a sequence motif from a sample that can be used to infer a species-level identification based on comparison to a library of reference sequences. Through the use of universal primers, DNA sequencing can allow for the detection of a wide range of seafood species simultaneously. The most extensively used sequencing approaches for seafood species identification are forensically informative nucleotide sequencing (FINS) and DNA barcoding. While several different genetic targets have been the focus of sequencing-based detection methods, the most common have been cytochrome b (cyt b), 16S rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Following amplification and sequencing of the target genetic region, searchable reference databases and phylogenetic methods are typically used to assist with the identification of species. This chapter provides an overview of DNA sequencing for the identification of seafood species and reviews current research in this area, including potential incorporation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. The application of sequencing-based techniques to detect seafood fraud on the commercial market is also discussed.