Bidens identification using the noncoding regions of chloroplast genome and nuclear ribosomal DNA

Tsai, Li-Chin; Wang, Jenn-Che; Hsieh, Hsing-Mei; Liu, Kuo-Lan; Linacre, Adrian; Lee, James Chun-I

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2007.07.005

« Previous Next »Forensic Science International: Genetics
Volume 2, Issue 1 , Pages 35-40, January 2008

Bidens identification using the noncoding regions of chloroplast genome and nuclear ribosomal DNA

Li-Chin Tsai
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Ting-Chow Road, Sec 4, Taipei 116, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, 56 Shu-Jen Road, Kwei-San, Taoyuan 33334, Taiwan, ROC
Jenn-Che Wang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Ting-Chow Road, Sec 4, Taipei 116, Taiwan, ROC
Hsing-Mei Hsieh
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, 56 Shu-Jen Road, Kwei-San, Taoyuan 33334, Taiwan, ROC
Kuo-Lan Liu
- Forensic Biology Office, Criminal Investigation Bureau, No. 5, Lane 553, Chung Hsiao Eastern Road Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Adrian Linacre
- Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW, United Kingdom
James Chun-I Lee
- Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
- Corresponding author. Fax: +886 2 23218438.

Received 6 March 2007; received in revised form 26 July 2007; accepted 27 July 2007. published online 10 September 2007.

Abstract

Bidens pilosa L. is a plant producing barbed fruits which, due to its method of seed dispersal, is commonly found during forensic investigations. In Taiwan there are three varieties of the species, radiata, minor and pilosa. Fragments of these three varieties are difficult to differentiate by traditional morphological characteristics and until now little is known of their genetic composition. To discover genetic polymorphisms among these varieties, five loci within the nuclear and chloroplast genomes were screened. A total of 161 specimens were used in this study comprising different geographical populations. Seven samples of Bidens biternata were included as an out-group control. DNA fragments of all samples at the trnL intron and trnL-trnF IGS loci of the chloroplast genome, internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) were amplified and sequenced. There were 3, 4, 20, 12 and 9 sequence types at these five loci, respectively. The sequence types for any locus of trnL intron, ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S were found to be useful markers to identify Bidens biternata and B. pilosa. The resulting 84 haplotypes at the 5 loci could differentiate the var. radiata from the varieties of B. pilosa with only the exception of 1 type. The genetic polymorphisms can be used when comparing botanical remains to identify the variety of B. pilosa present at a crime scene.

Keywords: Bidens pilosa, nrDNA, 5.8S, ITS1, ITS2, trnL intron, trnL-trnF IGS, Forensic botany