Identification and phylogenetic relationships among four species of puffer fish in Fugu as determined by RAPD markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was applied to the identification among four species of puffer fish in Fugu: F. pseudommus, F. obscurus, and two kinds of F. rubripus. Amplifications with 20 primers under predetermined optimal reaction conditions gave 134 distinct and reproducible DNA fragments,77 of which were polymorphic.The results showed that each species of Fugu has its own unique amplified genome pattern which might be used to identify different species of Fugu fish.The phylogenetic relationship indicated by the UPGMA and NJ cluster analysis is in good overall agreement with classical taxonomy based on morphological and biochemical character.It suggests that RAPD approach has its great potential in genetic identification of marine organisms as a new molecular marker.