INDIVIDUALIZATION AND ESTIMATION OF RELATEDNESS IN CROCODILIANS BY DNA FINGERPRINTING WITH A BKM-DERIVED PROBE

Individual-specific DNA fingerprints of crocodilians were obtained by the use of Bkm-2(8) probe. Pedigree analyses of Crocodylus palustris, C. porosus and Caiman crocodilus revealed that the multiple bands (22- 23 bands with Aludigest) thus obtained were inherited stably in a Mend elian fashion. Unique fingerprints permitted us to identify individual s, assign parentage, and reconstruct the DNA profile of a missing pare nt. Average band sharing between unrelated crocodiles was found to be 0.37. Band sharing between animals of known pedigrees increased predic tably with relatedness and provided a basis for distinguishing relativ es from non-relatives. Similar results obtained in other species/gener a, using the same probe, suggest that this approach may be applicable to all species of crocodilians, and could facilitate genetic studies o f wild and captive populations.