NCJ Number
148145
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 353-361
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper explains the use of highly repetitive DNA markers in determining the species or animal tissues in cases of the illegal commercialization and poaching of game animals and presents data from two court cases in Ontario, Canada that demonstrate the application of the procedure.
Abstract
This approach has been used in cases involving white- tailed deer, moose, and black bear. Digesting the DNA with various restriction enzymes, agarose electrophoresis, and staining with ethidium bromide revealed unique banding patterns for each species. These patterns have been used to distinguish meat from game animal species from commercial sources of meat and organs. On the Ontario investigations involved the illegal sale of moose meat. The two unknown tissue samples were analyzed with controls of beef and moose, white-tailed deer, red deer, and elk DNA. A similar case involved an investigation into the illegal sale of white-tailed deer meat. The technique described is a straightforward method of species identification that is less expensive and faster than the other species identification techniques using DNA analysis. Figures and 17 references (Author abstract modified)