Cross-species microsatellite amplification in South American Caimans (Caiman spp and Paleosuchus palpebrosus)

Rodrigo Barban Zucoloto,Luciano Martins Verdade,Luiz Lehmann Coutinho,Priscilla Marqui Schimidt Villela

doi:10.1590/s1415-47572006000100015

Rodrigo Barban Zucoloto, Luciano Martins Verdade + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1415-47572006000100015

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Abstract

Microsatellite DNA markers have been used to assess genetic diversity and to study ecological behavioral characteristics in animals. Although these markers are powerful tools, their development is labor intensive and costly. Thus, before new markers are developed it is important to prospect the use of markers from related species. In the present study we investigated the possibility of using microsatellite markers developed for Alligator mississipiensis and Caiman latirostris in South American crocodilians. Our results demonstrate the use of microsatellite markers for Paleosuchus palpebrosus, Caiman crocodilus and Caiman yacare.

Highlights

Microsatellite DNA markers have been used to assess genetic diversity and to study ecological behavioral characteristics in animals
Microsatellite markers developed for Alligator mississipiensis have been successfully used in closely related Alligatorinae species (Glenn et al, 1998); transference is more effective at the family or subfamily level (Glenn et al, 1998; Zucoloto, 1998)
The present study tested the ability of microsatellite markers previously developed for Alligator mississipiensis (Glenn et al, 1998) and Caiman latirostris (Zucoloto et al, 2002) to amplify orthologous loci in the related South American Alligatorinae species Caiman crocodilus, Caiman yacare and Paleosuchus palpebrosus

Summary

Introduction

Microsatellite DNA markers have been used to assess genetic diversity and to study ecological behavioral characteristics in animals. Researchers have tried to use microsatellite markers developed for one species in another (Moore et al, 1991). Microsatellite markers developed for Alligator mississipiensis have been successfully used in closely related Alligatorinae species (Glenn et al, 1998); transference is more effective at the family or subfamily level (Glenn et al, 1998; Zucoloto, 1998).

Results

Conclusion