16S rRNA Gene Sequence Analysis of Snow Leopard, Gray Wolf, Horse and Bactrian Camel in Mongolia

Abstract

In this study, mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences of snow leopard, gray wolf, domestic horse and Bactrian camel inhabited or domesticated in Mongolian territory were obtained by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on universal primers for 16S rRNA (F-5'-AACGAGCCTGGTGATA-3' and R-5'-CTCCGGTCTGAACTCAGATCACGTA-3'). The 16S rRNA sequence was 1,048 bp to 1,086 bp in length, and each sequence was compared to other related species (Felidae, Camelidae, Equidae and Canidae) by using NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Results showed that sequences were highly similar to sequences in GenBank database (93%-99%). Then phylogenetic analysis was performed based on about 1,100 bp sequence of 16S rRNA for Panthera uncia, Canis lupus, Equus caballus, Camelus bactrianus and other related species. The result revealed that P. uncia and P. leo were sister species, C. bactrianus and C. ferus were more closely related species, and wolf and dog were the almost similar species. This finding could be important for designing species specific primers for PCR based analysis of animal species identification and forensic veterinary medicine.