An actin gene-related polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for identification of chicken in meat mixtures.

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA extracted from muscle, a single pair of oligonucleotide primers can yield amplification products from several members of the actin multigene family simultaneously. These multiple PCR products form species-specific "fingerprints" on gel electrophoresis which may be useful for meat authentication. However, for analysis of meat mixtures, the presence of a single band unique to a species would have many advantages over a multi-component fingerprint. A procedure is described in which primers amplify at a single actin gene locus, giving a positive band with DNA extracted from chicken and turkey, but no reaction with duck, pheasant, porcine, bovine, ovine or equine DNA. The chicken signal was clearly detectable with DNA from meat admixtures containing 1% chicken/99% lamb and from meat heat-treated at 120°C. For further discrimination, the chicken PCR product could be differentiated from turkey by restriction enzyme digestion.

The actin multigene family and livestock speciation using the polymerase chain reaction.

Actins constitute a family of highly-conserved multifunctional intracellular proteins, best known as myofibrillar components in striated muscle fibres. Most vertebrate genomes contain numerous actin genes with high sequence homology in protein coding regions but considerable variability in intron number and sizes. This genetic diversity can be utilised for livestock speciation purposes. The high sequence conservation has enabled a single pair of oligonucleotides to be used to prime the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA extracted from all animals so far studied. Multiple amplification products were obtained which on gel electrophoresis constituted characteristic species-specific 'fingerprints'. The patterns were reproducible, did not vary between individuals of the same breed or between different breeds within a species, and could be generated even from heat-processed muscle held at 120 degrees C for one hour. Given the capacity of PCR to amplify relatively short sequences in highly-degraded DNA, this approach may be suitable for authentication of processed meat products.

Meat speciation by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using an α-actin cDNA probe.

Classical DNA fingerprinting is based on separation of DNA restriction fragments by electrophoresis and hybridisation to nucleic acid probes containing repetitive nucleotide sequences. The use of such mini- or micro-satellite probes tends to yield patterns specific to an individual rather than to a species, hence their value in forensic analysis but general unsuitability for meat speciation. In the present study, a cDNA probe based on conserved sequences contained in members of the actin multigene family has been evaluated for potential application in meat speciation. Genomic DNA was extracted from muscle and digested with BamHI before electrophoresis and hybridisation to a murine α-actin cDNA probe. Beef, pork, lamb, horse, chicken and fish DNA restriction fragments formed characteristic 'fingerprints' which were reproducible and varied sufficiently to allow discrimination even between closely-related species. However no major differences were seen between individuals of the same breed or between different breeds within a species. When DNA obtained from fresh tissue and also from meat heated at 120 °C was analysed, the gel patterns were essentially the same. An attractive feature of this approach is that it employs a single cross-reacting probe and set of conditions, and gives different patterns with all species so far studied. This simplicity suggests applications in meat speciation or related areas of biology.

DNA typing from human faeces.

A method has been developed for the forensic analysis of faeces by DNA amplification and direct sequencing of a polymorphic segment of mitochondrial DNA. Starting from as little as 10 mg wet weight of faeces, DNA was extracted by a variety of protocols and amplified using primers specific to hypervariable region 1 of the mitochondrial control region. The resulting amplification products were sequenced in solid phase using an automated DNA sequencer. In total, mtDNA sequences were generated from the faeces of nine Caucasians and compared with sequences generated from their respective blood samples. Sequences of faeces and blood samples from the same individual were identical in every case, but a range of 1-10 nucleotide differences was observed between individuals, with an average sequence variation of approximately 4.88 per 400 bp. Of the various extraction protocols assessed in this study, greatest success rates were achieved using magnetisable beads to bind and purify the DNA. STR analysis of DNA extracted from faeces was not routinely possible.