Identification of marine species

Question 1

Internal transcribed space

Answer 1

ITS region as a taxonomic marker.
Situated between the small subunit ribosomal RNA and large sub unit rRNA genes in the chromosome.
A non-coding part of the DNA.
ITS2 is often used to ID symbiont algae.

Question 2

DNA extraction

Answer 2

Aqueous phase, nucleic acids and other hydrophilic compounds.
Interphase precipitated proteins and cellular debris.
Organic phase, lipophilic compounds, lipids, chlorophyll.
Can extract DNA from aqueous phase by further cleaning steps.

Question 3

PCR and screenign

Answer 3

Use DNA in PCR as a template together with suitable primers, then amplify this ITS region.
PCR product sequenced, chromatogram.
BLAST:
Helps to analyse deposited sequences.
Find similar sequences.

Question 4

Sequence differences

Answer 4

INDEL. Insertion Deletion
Mutation.