South Indian Journal of Biological Sciences

Kothakota Naga Jogayya ¹, Ramesh Malothu ¹, Ikramul Haque ²

Affiliations
1 School of Biotechnology, J.N.T.University Kakinada, Kakinada, IN
2 Biology Division, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

We describe the development of PCR-RAPD method to detection of Indian crocodiles. According to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) of Wild Fauna and Flora and 1972 Indian Wildlife Protection Act, for conservation of crocodile species listed subject to illegal trade for three Indian crocodile species were selected for simple, rapid and reliable molecular method for identification of crocodile-based crime exhibits like bones, skin, etc. DNAbased identification of species using PCR-RAPD technique for an identification of all the three Indian crocodile species, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris and Gavialis gangeticus is presented here. A 780 bp segment of cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel primer followed by RAPD method it has produced Indian crocodile species-specific pattern for identifying three Indian crocodile species separately, which fulfills the prerequisite for its forensic application, this technique will show useful in recognition of all three Indian crocodile species genetic identification assay for enforcement use and strengthen conservation efforts.

Keywords

Crocodiles, PCR-RAPD, cytochrome b, Forensic Identification.

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