One use of PCR has been to monitor the trafficking of endangered organisms. Suppose that one suspect was accused of illegally importing a specific animal, but the suspect asserts that the young animal had been bred in this country from two resident zoo animals. How would you best proceed?
A)Use blood cells to obtain DNA from the animals and look for sequences found only in illegally traded ones.
B)Use DNA obtained from biopsy of the suspect organism and use a probe for infectious agents found more frequently in its native country.
C)Use DNA obtained from the possibly imported animal and treat with restriction enzyme; use a probe for disease genes common in its native country.
D)Use DNA from hair follicles of supposed zoo parents and of the supposed offspring to compare sequences amplified with primers for a highly polymorphic region.
E)Amplify highly polymorphic regions from zoo and native populations to compare with the suspect organism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA from hair follicles of the supposed zoo parents and of the supposed offspring can be used to compare sequences amplified with primers for a highly polymorphic region. This can establish the relationship between the parents and the offspring, and determine if the offspring was indeed bred in the country or illegally imported. This method is more specific and reliable than using blood cells and looking for sequences found only in illegally traded animals, or using a probe for infectious agents found more frequently in its native country. Treatment with restriction enzymes and using a probe for disease genes common in its native country may not necessarily establish the origin of the animal as it does not take into account the breeding history. Amplifying highly polymorphic regions from zoo and native populations may not be useful as it does not directly compare the suspected animal to its supposed parents.

One Use of PCR Has Been to Monitor the Trafficking