| Home  | About ScienceAsia  | Publication charge  | Advertise with us  | Subscription for printed version  | Contact us  
Editorial Board
Journal Policy
Instructions for Authors
Online submission
Author Login
Reviewer Login
Volume 50 Number 1
Volume 49 Number 6
Volume 49 Number 5
Volume 49S Number 1
Volume 49 Number 4
Volume 49 Number 3
Earlier issues
Back

Research Article


ScienceAsia 20 (1994): 031-041 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1994.20.031

 

DNA EXTRACTION, AMPLIFICATION, AND DIRECT SEQUENCING FROM HORNBILL FEATHERS

 

PHILLIP A. MORINa, JEANNE MESSIERb AND DAVID S. WOODRUFFb

ABSTRACT: Two methods for extracting DNA from feathers for non-invasive multilocus genotyping of birds are described. DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the double-stranded products were sequenced directly without the need for cloning. One method uses a single extraction step with Chelex as the extraction medium, thus reducing opportunities for contamination, and eliminating the need to use organic solvents and proteinases. It constitutes a simple, fast and relatively inexpensive method of DNA-level genotyping. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences of 7 species of hornbill (Aves: Bucerotidae) and a warbler are reported to demonstrate the method's potential for phylogenetic and genealogical analyses involving free-ranging birds and museum speCImens.

Download PDF


a Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A.
b Department of Biology and Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, U.S.A.

Received February 27,1994