Development and implementation of a STR based forensic typing system for moose (Alces alces)

Area of Science:

• Wildlife forensics
• Population genetics
• Molecular biology

Background:

• Moose are a valuable game species frequently subjected to illegal harvesting.
• Forensic DNA analysis is crucial for linking wildlife crimes to suspects.
• Effective forensic tools are needed for moose individualization in Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a short-tandem repeat (STR) based forensic DNA test for moose individualization.
• To assess the suitability of STR markers for forensic applications in moose.
• To analyze the population genetic structure of moose for forensic statistics.

Main Methods:

• Development and validation of a moose-specific STR forensic DNA test.
• Testing STR marker specificity and suitability for forensic use.
• Determination of the limit of detection and quantitation using ABI 3500 genetic analyzer.
• Population genetic analysis of moose in Alberta and Yukon.

Main Results:

• The developed STR test is specific to moose and suitable for forensic applications.
• The test's limit of detection and quantitation were successfully demonstrated.
• Population genetic data provides a foundation for calculating forensic statistics.
• The study establishes a robust method for moose individualization.

Conclusions:

• The validated moose STR forensic DNA test enables individualization for wildlife crime investigations.
• The findings support the use of DNA analysis in combating illegal moose harvesting.
• Recommendations are provided for conservative forensic statistical calculations based on population genetics.