Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

S. K. Ghosh ¹, P. Mahadani ¹, A. Chetry ², P. R. Ghosh ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Assam University, Silchar-788011, IN
2 College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, IN
3 West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, IN

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.

Keywords

DNA Barcoding, Royal Bengal Tiger, COI Gene, PCR, NCBI.

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P. Mahadani ¹, M. M. Das ¹, Bishal Dhar ¹, P. R. Ghosh ², S. K. Ghosh ¹

Affiliations
1 DNA barcode and Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, IN
2 West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, IN

Abstract

The plant Anisomeles indica (Lamiaceae) is commonly known as 'Indian Catmint' which is traditionally used as an anticancer and anti-inflammatory and as a source of new anti-metastatic agent for food and pharmaceutical industries. Here, we adopt the plant DNA barcoding technique to develop species level DNA passport for Anisomeles indica based on matK sequence (-800bp) of chloroplast DNA isolated from Anisomeles indica with subsequent amplification and sequencing for species level identification. Our result demonstrated 100% similarity with other Anisomeles indica sequences retrieved from global databases. The phylogeny analysis revealed that Anisomeles indica formed distinctive clusters with its different closely related species assigning correct taxonomic position. We propose that matK gene may be used as DNA passport for medicinal plants.

Keywords

Anisomeles indica, DNA Passport, MatK, Sequence Homology, Species Level.

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M. M. Das ¹, P. Mahadani ¹, R. Singh ², Kanika Karmakar ², S. K. Ghosh ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, IN
2 Tripura University, Agartala, Tripura, IN

Abstract

Bamboos, popularly known as poor man's timber for their multipurpose use in the rural life are widely found in tropical and subtropical countries. India, the second largest producer of bamboo in the world has rich diversities of bamboos with about 130 species spreading over 18 genera. We tested the performance of matK as a species identifier of selected Bambusa species through Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. Genomic DNA from young leaves of selected species were isolated and matK gene (-800bp) of chloroplast DNA was amplified and sequenced for species level identification. Among the six determined matK sequences, Bambusa nutan (JX966234), Bambusa arundinacea (JX966235), Bambusa balcooa (JX966236) and Bambusa cacharensis (JX966237) are novel sequences. The matK sequence showed easy amplification and alignment but it showed very low variation and even in some cases no variable and parsimony site were found. These matK sequences were shown high similarity (99%-100%) with both inter and intra species. The core DNA barcode loci matK failed to provide species specific marker in Bambusa due to interspecies hybridization, introgression and polyploidization.

Keywords

Bambusa, MatK, DNA Barcoding, Northeast India, Bambusa arundinacea, Bambusa cacharensis.

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