Thar She Blows! A Novel Method for DNA Collection from Cetacean Blow
Thar She Blows! A Novel Method for DNA Collection from Cetacean Blow
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0012299
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发表时间：
2010-08-25
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Mann, Janet
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Frere, Celine H.;Krzyszczyk, Ewa;Mann, Janet
背景：分子工具现在被广泛用于解决关键的管理和保护问题。迄今为止，飞镖活检一直是最常用的方法收集遗传数据的鲸目动物;然而，这种方法有一些缺点。飞镖活检被认为不适合年轻的动物，最近受到道德委员会，自然资源保护主义者和公众的审查。因此，确定鲸类动物的替代遗传收集技术仍然是一个优先事项，特别是对国际保护物种。方法/主要调查结果：在这项研究中，我们调查了吹采样，其中包括收集呼气从鲸类动物的气孔，可以开发为一种新的侵入性较低的DNA收集方法。我们目前的方法是使用六个海豚，Tursiops truncatus，住在国家水族馆，巴尔的摩（美国），从那里我们能够收集打击和血液样本。对于所有六个个体，我们发现他们从打击中提取的线粒体和微卫星DNA图谱与从血液中收集的相应线粒体和微卫星DNA图谱相匹配。这表明，吹采样是一个可行的替代方法DNA collection.Conclusion/Significance：在这项研究中，我们表明，吹采样提供了一个可行的和侵入性较小的方法收集的遗传数据，即使是小鲸类。与飞镖活检相比，这种方法的优点是它利用了海豚的自然呼吸行为，甚至可以应用于非常年幼的海豚。活组织检查和吹扫取样都需要靠近船，但吹扫取样可以在海豚自愿弓骑时实现，不涉及有害的接触。
Background: Molecular tools are now widely used to address crucial management and conservation questions. To date, dart biopsying has been the most commonly used method for collecting genetic data from cetaceans; however, this method has some drawbacks. Dart biopsying is considered inappropriate for young animals and has recently come under scrutiny from ethical boards, conservationists, and the general public. Thus, identifying alternative genetic collection techniques for cetaceans remains a priority, especially for internationally protected species.Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we investigated whether blow-sampling, which involves collecting exhalations from the blowholes of cetaceans, could be developed as a new less invasive method for DNA collection. Our current methodology was developed using six bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, housed at the National Aquarium, Baltimore (USA), from which we were able to collect both blow and blood samples. For all six individuals, we found that their mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA profile taken from blow, matched their corresponding mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA profile collected from blood. This indicates that blow-sampling is a viable alternative method for DNA collection.Conclusion/Significance: In this study, we show that blow-sampling provides a viable and less invasive method for collection of genetic data, even for small cetaceans. In contrast to dart biopsying, the advantage of this method is that it capitalizes on the natural breathing behaviour of dolphins and can be applied to even very young dolphins. Both biopsy and blow-sampling require close proximity of the boat, but blow-sampling can be achieved when dolphins voluntarily bow-ride and involves no harmful contact.