USE OF BIOCHEMICAL-GENETIC MARKERS TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN ADDUCTOR MUSCLES OF THE SEA SCALLOP (PLACOPECTEN-MAGELLANICUS) AND THE ICELAND SCALLOP (CHLAMYS-ISLANDICA)

Three biochemical techniques were applied to adductor muscles of Placo pecten magellanicus and Chlamys islandica, two commercially important scallops, to search for species-specific genetic markers. Allozyme ele ctrophoresis identified two enzyme systems, mannose phosphate isomeras e and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase, which appear to be diagnosti c. Sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene in each species showed 15 nucleotid e differences over 1815 base pairs. Digestion of the gene with the res triction enzyme XHO I released two fragments in Placopecten and three in Chlamys. All three techniques could be developed for management pur poses as part of an enforcement programme to identify illegally caught scallops.