An actin gene-related polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for identification of chicken in meat mixtures

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA extracted from muscle, a single pair of oligonucleotide primers can yield amplification products from several members of the actin multigene family simultaneously. These multiple PCR products form species-specific "fingerprints" on gel electrophoresis which may be useful for meat authentication. However, for analysis of meat mixtures, the presence of a single band unique to a species would have many advantages over a multi-component fingerprint. A procedure is described in which primers amplify at a single actin gene locus, giving a positive band with DNA extracted from chicken and turkey, but no reaction with duck, pheasant, porcine, bovine, ovine or equine DNA. The chicken signal was clearly detectable with DNA from meat admixtures containing 1% chicken/99% lamb and from meat heat-treated at 120°C. For further discrimination, the chicken PCR product could be differentiated from turkey by restriction enzyme digestion.