Mammalian species identification using ISSR-HRM technique

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Forensics
• Molecular Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Illegal wildlife trade and hunting contribute to global biodiversity loss.
• Investigating wildlife crime is challenging due to difficulties in controlling trade of animal parts.
• Effective wildlife forensics and legislation enforcement are crucial for conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers combined with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for mammalian species identification.
• To establish a reliable and efficient method for identifying animal species in wildlife crime investigations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized six ISSR primers for species identification analysis across 161 mammalian samples.
• Employed high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for precise species discrimination.
• Assessed accuracy and precision of the ISSR-HRM technique.

Main Results:

• ISSR-HRM analysis demonstrated high accuracy (33.3%-100%) and 100% precision for species identification.
• All 161 mammalian samples were successfully and accurately identified to their correct species.
• The method proved effective for distinguishing among various mammalian species.

Conclusions:

• ISSR-HRM analysis is a powerful and effective tool for mammalian species identification in wildlife forensics.
• This technique offers a convenient and interpretable alternative for identifying animal parts at crime scenes.
• Improved species identification capabilities can enhance the enforcement of laws against illegal wildlife trade.