Methods used in sea turtle genetic and molecular studies

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Sea turtles have a tropical and subtropical distribution and can be found in nearly all seas and oceans. They have been the subject of considerable genetic research. However, it does not yet appear that the molecular techniques used for these genetic studies follow a consensus or universal set of tools to be followed for subsequent studies. This is not desirable since it may preclude data exchange and use among studies. Thus, the aim of this review was to survey the main genetic and molecular methods used for sea turtle research worldwide. To achieve this goal, a total of 95 scientific papers were compiled from online databases. We considered articles that used molecular tools for genetic analysis and provided detailed locality data. The following aspects were assessed: species studied, local of sample collection, type of tissue used for molecular studies and type of genetic material used. The seven known sea turtle species have different distribution patterns, with some overlapping of occurrence. Chelonia mydas has been studied genetically along the coasts of all continents. Skin is the most common type of tissue used for molecular analyses. From genetic studies on sea turtles, it is possible to verify the occurrence of hybridism. This phenomenon is relevant to the conservation of the species and was reported in six articles on this topic. Therefore, it is considered that genetic and molecular assays in sea turtles are important tools for biological evaluation and protection. The aim was to survey the main methods used in genetic and molecular research on marine turtles. Keywords: DNA, Chelonian, Testudines, marine turtles