Title
Who Done It?: DNA Identification of Species-Specific Samples Using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Primary Submission Contact
Max Carpenter
Faculty Sponsor
Beth Scaglione-Sewell
Faculty Sponsor Email Address
beth.scaglionesewell@valpo.edu
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/Program
Pre-Medical Arts
Document Type
Poster Presentation
Date
Fall 10-30-2015
Abstract
The cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene has been used for many years to identify invertebrates and vertebrates. For example, COX1 is utilized to identify bird (avian) species and forensically important blowflies (Calliphoridae) by their DNA. The traditional method is to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a sample and to subsequently sequence the COX1 gene. Because it is not cost-efficient for small research laboratories to sequence numerous samples at one time, the goal of these experiments is to develop an alternative method to DNA sequencing for identification of species from DNA samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Through a genomic DNA preparation and gene amplification using PCR, the COX1 DNA region was taken from avian fecal samples and from Calliphoridae samples. Calliphoridae COX1 DNA was taken from two Calliphoridae maggot samples and successfully verified via sequencing to be Lucilia silvarum and Calliphora vicina. Further testing must be done to detect avian COX1 DNA from fecal matter. Future work includes using RT-PCR with DNA samples and developing species-specific primers for the COX1 gene. Calliphoridae COX1 DNA sequences are extremely homologous with only slight variations, thus, requiring the use of species-specific fluorescent probes. Avian COX1 DNA sequences differ greatly between species allowing for the use of SYBR® green with species-specific primers.
Recommended Citation
carpenter, max p. and Hargrave, Lauren, "Who Done It?: DNA Identification of Species-Specific Samples Using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction" (2015). Fall Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. 39.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/fires/39
Additional Presentation Information
Wall Poster
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Max Carpenter is in his second year of doing research with Dr. Beth Scaglione-Sewell. He is a Biology Major with a Chemistry Minor. He has hopes of going to dental school next fall.
Lauren Hargrave is a passionate advocate for the health and well being of others. She became interested in Dr. Beth Scaglione-Sewell's research her freshman year and joined her lab her junior year. After two years of work in the lab Lauren graduated from Valparaiso University this past fall and is now pursuing her dreams of becoming a Physician’s Assistant.