RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) INTERPRETATION REQUIRES A SENSITIVE METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF AMPLIFIED DNA

The random amplified polymorphic DNA technique (RAPD) has found wide u se in molecular genetics because of its speed and ease of use. For var ious reasons, with this method the amplified DNA fragments are produce d at different concentrations between genotypes and even between polym erase chain reaction (PCR) runs. Since the detection of the multiple a mplified fragments is performed routinely by agarose gel, and seldom b y acrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have found that by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), which is more sensitive and accurate than gel electrophoresis, it is possible to unequivocally detect amplified frag ments even at low concentration, avoiding polymorphism misinterpretati on. CZE is also useful to make more potentially polymorphic fragments evident per random primer used, with obvious economical benefits.