Y-chromosomal testing of brown bears ( Ursus arctos ): Validation of a multiplex PCR-approach for nine STRs suitable for fecal and hair samples

摘要: High-resolution Y-chromosomal markers have been applied to humans and other primates study population genetics, migration, social structures reproduction. Y-linked allow the direct assessment of genetic structure gene flow uniquely male inherited lineages may also be useful for wildlife conservation forensics, but so far available only few wild species. Thus, we developed two multiplex PCR reactions encompassing nine Y-STR identified from brown bear (Ursus arctos) tested them on hair, fecal tissue samples. The approach was optimized analyzed species specificity, sensitivity stutter-peak ratios. Y-STRs showed specific STR-fragments black bears polar bears, while none produced any products when using DNA female or males 12 mammals. in could amplified with as low 0.2 ng template input. Precision high templates hairs, scats tissues, standard deviations less than 0.14 median stutter ratios 0.04 0.63. Among eight di- one tetra-nucleotide repeat markers, detected simple seven 9–25 units. Allelic variation found Y-STRs, 2–9 alleles each marker a total 36 among 453 sampled mainly Northern Europe. We conclude that these would provide specificity evidence suited samples forensics.