Molecular Identification and Sexual Differentiation of Freshwater Mud Eel, Monopterus cuchia

摘要

This study was carried out for molecular identification and sexual differentiation of freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia which is most important for induced breeding. Traditional classification of freshwater eels has always been obscurerd and unreliable due to their morphological ambiguity. A rapid and cost effective molecular markers, mitochondrial 16S rRNA and glutamine synthetase gene was used to establish molecular standards for identification of this fish. Similar bands were seen in all the individuals at the level of 250bp length by using 16s mitochondrial DNA of 24 individuals and 544bp length for partial sequence of glutamine synthetage gene in 11 individuals. A successful protocol was developed to identify male and female M. cuchia through morphological, anatomical and histological analysis.