Molecular markers in entomology

Abstract

A diverse range of novel molecular (DNA) markers are now available for entomological investigations. Both DNA and protein markers have revolutionized the biological sciences and have enhanced many fields of study, especially ecology. Relative to DNA markers, allozymes are cheap, often much quicker to isolate and develop, even from minute insects (aphids, thrips, parasitic wasps, etc.), and subsequently easy to use. They display single or multi-locus banding patterns of a generally easily interpretable Mendelian nature, and the statistics for their analysis are well established. DNA markers are also suitable for use with small amounts of insect material and can be used with stored, dry or old samples. They have an expanding range of applications, many involving intra- and interspecific discriminations. Like allozymes, they can be single or multilocus, whilst methods for their statistical analysis have recently been published. However, they can be considerably more expensive than allozymes, require more complex preparatory protocols, expensive equipment, may involve lengthy development procedures (e.g. isolating cloned oligonucleotides to develop primers to detect microsatellite regions) and some have complex multi-locus banding patterns which may be of a non-Mendelian nature (e.g. RAPDs, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA), and are in some cases, not easily repeatable. In this review, we hope to inform the general reader about the methodology and scope of the main molecular markers commonly in use, along with brief details of some other techniques which show great promise for entomological studies. Thereafter, we discuss their applications including suitability for particular studies, the methods used to load and run samples, subsequent band detection, band scoring and interpretation, the reliability of particular techniques, the issues of safety involved, cost effectiveness and the statistical analyses utilized.

Incomplete sexual isolation in sympatry between subspecies of the butterfly Danaus chrysippus (L.) and the creation of a hybrid zone

“…Simon et al, 1994;Loxdale and Lushai, 1998). Forward (F) and reverse (R) primers were: 12S rRNA-F, 5 0 -aagagcgacgggcgatgtgt-3 0 and 12S rRNA-R, 5 0 -aaactaggattagataccctattat-3 0 .…”

Characterization and evaluation of microsatellite markers in a strain of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), with a genetic sexing character used in sterile insect population control

“…They are usually found in noncoding DNA sequences and are widely distributed and abundantly found on the eukaryotic chromosome (Goldstein & Schlötterer, 1999;Loxdale & Lushai, 1998). They are suitable and sensitive tools for studying recent population changes because they are essentially selectively neutral and often highly polymorphic (Guichoux et al, 2011).…”

Genetic Relationships Among <I>Aedes aegypti</I> (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations from Argentina Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction Markers

“…Techniques in molecular biology have provided powerful tools for discriminating species and populations using molecular markers (Loxdale and Lushai 1998;Semagn et al 2006;Pereira et al 2008;Samarakoon et al 2012), including applications with screwworms (Azeredo-Espin and Lessinger 2006; Alamalakala et al 2009). One technique useful for inter-and intraspecific identification is the random amplified polymorphic DNApolymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) (Semagn et al 2006).…”