DNA Barcode of Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Domestic Cat (Felis Sylvestris Catus) Using Own Designed PCR Primers

Abstract

The DNA barcoding of Felidae (cat family, using mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase subunit-I (COI) region opens a new vista for molecular identification of different life forms on our planet and caters a boon for cataloguing of taxa. In the present study, an attempt is made to develop a set of universal primer (forward COI-Fl and reverse COI-R1) for PCR amplification of COI gene for higher mammals and validate by successful amplification and subsequent sequencing of the gene in Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) and domestic cat (Felts sylvestris catus). The sequenced data are submitted in GenBank (Accession No FJ185309 and FJ185310) as DNA barcode of the species. The designed primers opened a new hope in mitigating a long standing problem of species identification due to poaching of wild animals, adulteration of meat and animal products and purity testing as it can amplify wide range of barcode sequences of higher mammals. The obtained sequences along with other relevant sequences already existed in global database are analyzed to determine phylogenetic relationship and discussed.