Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA from noninvasive samples for accurate microsatellite genotyping of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus)

Noninvasive samples are useful for molecular genetic analyses of wild anima l populations. However, the low DNA content of such samples makes DNA ampli fication difficult, and there is the potential for erroneous results when o ne of two alleles at heterozygous microsatellite loci fails to be amplified . In this study we describe an assay designed to measure the amount of ampl ifiable nuclear DNA in low DNA concentration extracts from noninvasive samp les. We describe the range of DNA amounts obtained from chimpanzee faeces a nd shed hair samples and formulate a new efficient approach for accurate mi crosatellite genotyping. Prescreening of extracts for DNA quantity is recom mended for sorting of samples for likely success and reliability. Repetitio n of results remains extensive for analysis of microsatellite amplification s beginning from low starting amounts of DNA, but is reduced for those with higher DNA content.