PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA: A reliable method for species identification

A method for identification of game species has been developed on the basis of the amplification of a specific part of the mitochondrial genome (tRNA( Glu)/cytochrome b) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To distinguis h between several game species,the obtained 464-bp-long PCR products were c ut with different restriction endonucleases (RE) resulting in species-speci fic restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Even closely related d eer species could be distinguished by application of one or two RE. Natural polymorphisms of the target sequence within one species were examined for red deer (Cervus elaphus), and base pair substitutions were identified affe cting the RFLP pattern.