A highly innovative technology that identifies plant species from short or even damaged DNA fragments

Introduction

The Laboratory for Alpine Ecology (UJF, CNRS) led by Pierre Taberlet has developed an innovative method to identify plant products. The identification process works by analysing a short DNA sequence. This very informative primer identifies length and sequence variations specific to the plant species. The technology is highly innovative in that it uses universal primers to amplify a very short but highly informative DNA fragment in order to identify plant species existing in a substrate, even if this substrate is transformed or damaged.

Description

The method requires a DNA fragment containing less than 143 base pairs and shows sequence variations specific to the plant species. This small fragment can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, using universal primers. It allows the identification of most plant species (Angiosperms and Gymnosperms) and analysis can be performed by classical methods such as cloning as well as sequencing, direct sequencing, hybridisation or electrophoresis.

Principle Benefits

• Comprehensive: the same experimental protocol can be used to identify most plant species.
• Powerful: the method is highly effective even with transformed or highly damaged substrates. It can be used to identify every kind of matter containing vegetal substances.
• Highly accurate: it is possible to analyse substrates containing a mix of several plant compounds and to estimate the relative proportion of each compound.
• Easy to analyse: after amplification, classical methods of DNA polymorphism analysis can be carried out.

Potential Applications

• Agribusiness
• Environmental Protection
• Health
• Cosmetics industry
• Quality control
• Veterinary Science (relating to diet)

Some Examples :

• Control of the composition of raw materials : authenticity, traceability
• Control of the composition of transformed products during manufacturing processes
• Control of trace elements presence
• Study of diet

Contacts
Véronique Sendra
+33 (0)4 76 00 78 38
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