The actin multigene family and livestock speciation using the polymerase chain reaction.

摘要

Most vertebrate genomes contain numerous actin genes with high sequence homology in protein coding regions but considerable variability in intron number and sizes. The high sequence conservation enabled a single pair of oligonucleotides to be used as primer for PCR with DNA extracted from all animals studied (horses, sheep, fowls and cattle). Multiple amplification products were obtained which on gel electrophoresis constituted characteristic species-specific 'fingerprints'. The patterns were reproducible, did not vary between individuals of the same breed or between different breeds within a species, and could be generated even from heat-processed muscle held at 120deg C for 1 h. It is suggested that this approach may be suitable for authenticationof processed meat products.