Isolation and analysis of DNA from museum specimens of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) with the aid of polymerase chain reaction using arbitrary and universal gene-specific primers

The effect of the duration of storage of entomological material on DNA pres ervation was estimated. The results of the optimization of conditions for t he analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA in a polymerase chain react ion (RAPD-PCR) are presented as applied to the DNA of lepidopterans of the family Papilionidae. RAPD patterns are shown for the first time in Atrophan eura alcinous and four species of the genus Parnassius (sensu late). The ap plicability of museum specimens of butterflies for RAPD analysis was demons trated. The results of PCR analysis using DNA obtained from different colle ction specimens stored for up to five years were compared. The authenticity of DNA obtained from collection specimens was proved using PCR with univer sal primers, which are specific to the COI and COII cytochrome genes of mit ochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The lengths of individual gene fragments obtained b y the amplification of both museum and live specimens were 800 and 1600 bp. The conservative regions of mitochondrial genome were shown to be slightly different in two A. alcinous subspecies.