Constructing STR multiplexes for individual identification of Hungarian red deer.

Area of Science:

• Wildlife genetics
• Forensic science
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Red deer are a valuable game species in Hungary, necessitating individual genetic identification.
• Existing genetic identification methods may lack the required specificity and accuracy for forensic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize 10 novel tetranucleotide STR markers for red deer (Cervus elaphus).
• To evaluate the utility of these markers for individual genetic identification and forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

• Development and amplification of 10 tetranucleotide STR markers in two 5-plex systems (DeerPlex I and II).
• Analysis of flanking region sequences, allele nomenclature, and PCR optimization.
• Linkage disequilibrium (LD) pairwise tests and cross-species similarity analyses.
• Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) to assess population genetic structure.

Main Results:

• Ten STR loci were successfully developed and optimized, showing independent inheritance.
• Significant genetic differences were observed between two red deer subpopulations (F(ST) = 0.034).
• A very low average probability of identity (PI(ave) = 2.6736 × 10(-15)) was achieved, minimizing false identifications.
• The markers were successfully applied in solving an illegal hunting case, demonstrating their forensic potential.

Conclusions:

• The 10 developed STR markers provide a powerful tool for accurate genetic identification of red deer.
• These markers have significant forensic applications, including wildlife crime investigations.
• The genetic differentiation observed highlights the importance of population-specific genetic data for conservation efforts.