AFLPs: genetic markers for paternity studies in newts (Triturus vulgaris)

Jehle, R; Whitlock, A; Sztatecsny, M

Abstract

DNA-based genetic markers can reveal paternity whenever the direct assignment of fathers to offspring is precluded by multiple matings and internal fertilisation. Microsatellites are the current marker of choice in many behavioural studies, and have revealed important insights into genetic mating systems of European amphibians. However, the number of amphibian species for which the time-consuming designing of locus-specific microsatellite primers was successful is still limited, and the cross-utilisation of existing markers to closely related taxa seems to have a particularly low success rate. Allozymes can infer parentage without a species-specific protocol, but, due to their low degree of polymorphism, in mate choice experiments require the a priori screening of individuals. Dominant markers such as RAPDs successfully identified closely-related amphibian species and their hybrids, but might be less suited to distinguish between closely related individuals with a putatively high frequency of shared bands.

Citation

Jehle, R., Whitlock, A., & Sztatecsny, M. (2006). AFLPs: genetic markers for paternity studies in newts (Triturus vulgaris). Amphibia-Reptilia, 27(1), 126-129. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853806776052029

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Aug 27, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 27, 2009
• Journal: Amphibia-Reptilia
• Print ISSN: 0173-5373
• Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 126-129
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156853806776052029
• Keywords: Genetics, paternity, European newts
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853806776052029
• Related Public URLs: http://brill.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/amre