Environmental and Comparative Genomics Research Projects
Conservation Medicine/Genetics: Chimpanzee, Baboon, Human

Genetic diversity of chimpanzee, baboon and human
Mitochondrial COII DNA was amplified by PCR from total DNA extracted from field collected primate fecal samples (n=24) which had been stored without refrigeration for over 30 days. High molecular weight DNA total DNA was obtained from samples stored in 70% (v/v) ethanol, SDS lysis buffer (LB) and guanidine isothiocyanate buffer (GTB) than from samples stored in 10% formalin. Fecal DNA quality and COII amplification varied according to storage solution (formalin, ethanol, LB and GTB), extraction method (LB-based and GTB-based) and primate species (chimpanzee, baboon, human). It is recommended that fecal samples be collected in LB for DNA analysis. However, GTB-based protocols are suitable when total RNA is needed for epidemiological studies of viral diseases or gene expression analysis.

Christopher A. Whittier, Arun K. Dhar, Chip Stem, Jane Goodall, Acacia Alcivar-Warren, Comparison of DNA extraction methods for PCR amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) DNA from primate fecal samples, Biotechnology Techniques, Volume 13, Issue 11, Nov 1999, Pages 771 - 779