ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SPECIFICITY IN AFLP SYSTEMS APO-B, PAH, AND D1S80

We have previously characterized and databased three human amplified f ragment length polymorphism (AFLP) loci: the hypervariable regions 3' to apolipoprotein B (APOB), phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and at loc us D1S80. The analysis utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techno logy for human identification in forensic and paternity testing, This study extended that work by assessment of specificity of amplicons pro duced with non-human and human control DNAs for APOB, PAH and D1S80 un der high and low stringency PCR conditions. It was seen that primate a nd other animal templates (with the exception of chimpanzee) yielded p roducts below the human allele range under high stringency PCR paramet ers, Under reduced stringency PCR with animal and primate samples, rep roducible genetic fingerprints were generated spanning the human allel e range. The patterns were produced with defined human AFLP primer pai rs under specifically relaxed PCR reaction and thermalcycling paramete rs. They showed genetic relationships between species at the DNA level . Amplicon patterns were compared for band size and intensity matches within the PCR synthesis range defined by the conditions used. This te chnique could become a useful tool in species identification and molec ular evolutionary studies.