Methodological adaptation of genetic identification in canned fishes (tuna, sardine and mackerel)

By adaptation of a novel procedure refered as FINS for "Forensicalty Inform ative Nucleotide Sequencing", we have set up a protocole in order to determ ine the animal origin of a specimen (ie. the species or breed of the animal used in a food preparation). This method is based on the analysis of DNA, a molecule bearing the genetic information. A specific DNA fragment is ampl ified by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) using phylogeneticaly highly conse rved oligonucleotide primers. The amplified fragment is sequenced. The obta ined sequence is then entered for comparison into a data base, developped b y the Canadian laboratory Bio-ld and completed by the French laboratory ATL ANGENE APPLICATIONS. This data base contains many vertebrate species, inclu ding fishes, birds and mammalians from the whole world. We have been able t o identify fish species, even after cooking and canning of the product. The specificity of the method is so high that we can distinguish all the speci es of the genus Thunnus so far tested (ie. albacore, yellowfin, bluefin and bygeye tuna fishes). Similar results were obtained for the genera Euthynnu s, Auxis, Sarda, Scomber and fish from the Clupeidae family (sardine and sa rdine-type species).