EXTRACTION OF DNA FROM ANOSTRACAN CYSTS (CRUSTACEA, BRANCHIOPODA) FORUSE IN RAPD-PCR ANALYSES

Like many diapausing crustaceans, anostracans (Crustacea, Branchiopoda ) produce encysted embryos capable of surviving the long periods of de siccation typical of their environments. These cysts are far more abun dant and are easier to collect than adults and for some applications t hey are superior to adults as subjects for genetic analysis. Due to th e lack of minimal tissue size requirements, PCR-based analysis is the best alternative for genetic study of cysts. We describe a method for the fast extraction of DNA from cysts, yielding template for RAPD-PCR analysis.