DETERMINATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND PATERNITY IN THE GRAY-TAILED VOLE (MICROTUS-CANICAUDUS) BY RAPD-PCR

Genetic relatedness of gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) was det ermined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). This work is the f irst reported use of the RAPD method for pedigree analysis of M. canic audus and demonstrates the feasibility of RAPD for assessing paternity and genetic similarity between inbred and outbred individuals. Amplif ied polymorphisms and two statistical approaches were used to evaluate genetic similarities between individual Voles. DNA profiles of wild-c aught (outbred) voles were significantly less similar than were inbred voles, using two different primers (P less than or equal to 0.03 and P less than or equal to 0.003). In pedigree analyses using three unrel ated males in a discrimination test, indication of paternity was based upon bands shared by the progeny and the male in question. Non-sire m ales produced bands that were not seen in the probable father or offsp ring and, conversely, bands were found in the progeny that were appare ntly inherited only from the probable sire. The RAPD procedure may hav e wide applications in identifying genetic relationships among individ uals to estimate genetic heterogeneity, determine parentage, and addre ss questions concerning gene flow and kinship in feral vole population s.