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01-01-2020 | Original Article

Development of a multiplex, PCR-based genotyping assay for African and Asian elephants for forensic purposes

Authors: Margret J. Potoczniak, Michael Chermak, Lawrence Quarino, Shanan S. Tobe, Jillian Conte

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Wildlife crimes and the threats they present to elephant populations raise the need to develop and implement DNA-based methodology as an aid for wildlife forensic investigations and conservation efforts. This study describes the development of a tetra-nucleotide repeat STR multiplex, genotyping assay that will identify Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) DNA. The assay targets six tetra-nucleotide STRs and two sex-typing markers simultaneously in both genera of elephants, a first for elephant genotyping assays. The developed assay has potential application in wildlife investigations to associate a biological sample to a particular individual elephant and additionally in conservation science for population management.

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Title: Development of a multiplex, PCR-based genotyping assay for African and Asian elephants for forensic purposes
Authors: Margret J. Potoczniak
Michael Chermak
Lawrence Quarino
Shanan S. Tobe
Jillian Conte
Publication date: 01-01-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02097-y

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Development of a multiplex, PCR-based genotyping assay for African and Asian elephants for forensic purposes

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