A preliminary investigation of the utility of ribosomal genes for species identification of Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria)
Date
2008
Authors
Mitchell, M.
Worthington Wilmer, J.
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Journal article
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Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 2008; 54(1):65-73
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Jessica Worthington Wilmer, Michela L. Mitchell
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Abstract
The utility of the ribosomal DNA gene complex for species identification of Actiniaria was examined. The use of universal ribosomal PCP primers is problematic in this group due to the presence of algal symbionts. Universal primers were initially used to amplify a region containing partial 18S, complete ITS, 5.8S. ITS2, and partial 28S sequences from six sea anemone species. The development of two sea anemone specific primers for this region was necessary to avoid amplification of algal symbionts for a number of species. Complete sequences of the 18S-28S fragment was obtained from three species, ?Anemonia sp. 724 bp), Heteractis malu (670bp) and Stichodactyla haddoni (734 bp); partial or non-overlapping sequences were obtained from Entacmaea quadricolor (480bp from 18S), Macrodactyla doreensis (523 bp: 300bp from 18S and 223bp from 28S) and Oulactis muscosa (556bp: 285bp from 18S and 217bp from 28S). Average sequence divergence among sea anemone species was approx. 24% indicating that this region may indeed be useful for species identification. However, unexpectedly low divergence recorded between two species in different genera, nether of which could be verified by histology due to specimen unavailability, indicated that traditional histologist methods are still needed to confirm identification and certainly until such time that an rDNA database of sea anemone tissue has been established.
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© The State of Queensland (Queensland Museum).