Use of DNA Sequencing for the Identification of Epipremnum aureum, Contreras, Loren
College of Science and Mathematics
DNA barcoding is an important method for the identification of species within a genus taxonomic group. The sequence of a standard sequence of the genome is obtained and then stored in database such as GenBank. The sequenced region is highly conserved; therefore common primers can be used to amplify this sequence by polymerase chain reaction. For plants, a particular gene for a protein involved in the chemical conversion of light to chemical energy necessary for plants, enzyme ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) the product of the gene rbcl was used. For this experiment a leaf was removed from my chosen plant for the isolation of its DNA followed by amplification of it through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a technology in molecular biology used to produce millions of copies of a single DNA sequence and this technique is commonly used in applications such as diagnosis of hereditary diseases, identification of genetic fingerprints and DNA-based phylogeny.. The PCR product of amplified DNA was visible after gel electrophoresis was performed and indicated fragments of appropriate size and purity. DNA sequencing of the PCR product was done by GeneWiz. DNA sequences were obtained and using a BLAST search and it identified the closest genus and species for the rbcl sequence of the leaf used in the experiment. My organism is Epipremnum aureum; its common name is Golden Pothos. The latitude and longitude for my plant was found using itouchmap at 29.693999 and -95.516623.
