New diagnostic SNP molecular markers for the Mytilus species complex

PLoS One. 2018 Jul 12;13(7):e0200654. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200654. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The development of diagnostic markers has been a long-standing interest of population geneticists as it allows clarification of taxonomic uncertainties. Historically, there has been much debate on the taxonomic status of species belonging to the Mytilus species complex (M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus), and whether they are discrete species. We analysed reference pure specimens of M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus, using Restriction site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing and identified over 6,000 SNP markers separating the three species unambiguously. We developed a panel of diagnostic SNP markers for the genotyping of Mytilus species complex as well as the identification of hybrids and interspecies introgression events in Mytilus species. We validated a panel of twelve diagnostic SNP markers which can be used for species genotyping. Being able to accurately identify species and hybrids within the Mytilus species complex is important for the selective mussel stock management, the exclusion of invasive species, basic physiology and bio-diversity studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genotyping Techniques*
  • Mytilus / classification
  • Mytilus / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Genetic Markers

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge the support of the MASTS pooling initiative (The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland) in the completion of this study. MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) to JW and MB and contributing institutions. JW was also supported by Marine Scotland Science. Publication fees were coved by the University of Stirling to MB.