Molecular species identification of historical whale remains from South Georgia.

Lindqvist, Charlotte; Probst, Anja; Martin, Anthony R.; Wiig, Øystein; Bachmann, Lutz

The article provides information on the molecular species identification of historical whale remains from South Georgia. It notes that retrieving genetic information from the whale remains would aid the study of the genetic structure of historical whale populations prior to human exploitation. In the course of the study, the researchers extracted DNA from a number of whalebones and muscle samples collected at the four localities in South Georgia. To determine the species status of the whale remains, polymerase chain reaction (PCS) amplification and PCR product sequencing are employed. Results of the species identification of the historical whale samples are presented.

SOUTH Georgia (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands); FOSSIL whales; ANIMAL species; DNA; POLYMERASE chain reaction; GENE amplification; NUCLEOTIDE sequence; FOSSIL animals; SPECIES

Marine Mammal Science, 2009, Vol 25, Issue 1, p229

0824-0469

Academic Journal

10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00248.x