IDENTIFICATION OF THREE IRANIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RATTUS (RODENTIA, MURIDAE) USING A PCR-RFLP TECHNIQUE ON MITOCHONDRIAL DNA

摘要: Three species of the genus Rattus Fisher, 1803 have been reported from Iran: brown rat (R. norvegicus), black rattus) and Himalayan pyctoris). The first two were introduced, whilst R. pyctoris is native lives in mountain- ous regions Pakistan to north-eastern Iran. In this study, mitochondrial DNA twenty six rats analysed using a PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragments Length Polymorphism) method investigate inter-specific variation. Part 16S rRNA cytochrome b genes amplified digested with three restriction en- zymes: AluI, MboI HinfI. fragments resulted four different haplotypes allowed distinguish species. Our results suggest that are more closely related rattus than norvegicus provide basics for further phylogenetic studies.