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An allelic discrimination SNP assay for distinguishing the mitochondrial lineages of European wildcats and domestic cats

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Abstract

Here we present an allelic discrimination assay designed to distinguish European wildcat mtDNA lineages from those of the domestic cat. Introgression between the native wildcat and introduced domestic cat has the potential to limit and reduce the recent recovery of remnant populations. Applied conservation genetic techniques can aid current conservation decisions on lethal control and neutering measures in hybrid zones. This real-time PCR technique offers a rapid, inexpensive and reliable assay to assess mtDNA introgression in the wild and has already identified hybrid individuals in the Scottish wildcat captive breeding programme.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Neville Buck, Douglas Richardson, David Hetherington, Steve Piper and Rob Ogden. The work was funded by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WildGenes Laboratory, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS, Scotland, UK

    Ross McEwing

  2. Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, Scotland, UK

    Andrew C. Kitchener

  3. Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Bldg 560, Room 11-84, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA

    Clare Holleley

  4. Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX13 5QL, UK

    Kerry Kilshaw

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK

    Paul O’Donoghue

Authors
  1. Ross McEwing
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  2. Andrew C. Kitchener
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  3. Clare Holleley
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  4. Kerry Kilshaw
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  5. Paul O’Donoghue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ross McEwing.

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McEwing, R., Kitchener, A.C., Holleley, C. et al. An allelic discrimination SNP assay for distinguishing the mitochondrial lineages of European wildcats and domestic cats. Conservation Genet Resour 4, 163–165 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9499-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9499-z

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