Identification of hake species (Merluccius genus) using sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The use of DNA-based methodologies in identification of hake species belong ing to the Merluccius genus was shown to be successful, A short fragment of the left hypervariable domain of the mitochondrial control region was ampl ified, sequenced, and digested from 11 hake species. The hake-specific PCR product, due to its limited size, was obtained in a variety of tissue sampl es with different levels of DNA concentration and degradation, including st erilized food products. On the basis of this phylogenetically informative 1 56-bp sequence were selected four restriction enzymes (ApoI, DdeI, DraIII, and MboII) that allow the hake species discrimination. Species identificati on by phylogenetic analysis of sequences or by PCR-RFLP methodologies is us eful in a variety of scenarios including authentication of thermally proces sed food, detection of food components, and species determination of indivi duals whose morphological characters are removed.