Characterisation of new microsatellite markers in the viperine snake Natrix maura
Hugo Le Chevalier
CNRS
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Goal
Researchers from CNRS were interested in outsourcing the development of microsatellite markers for Natrix maura, with the goal of using them to identify fine scale genetic structures.
Approach
We prepared a genome library enriched in di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide microsatellites. As the starting material, we used DNA obtained from a buccal swab from a Natrix maura individual. The library was sequenced in the Illumina MiSeq platform and, by using in-housed developed scripts, we selected the reads containing microsatellite motifs. Then, we designed primer pairs at the flanking regions of the microsatellites. A total number of 108 primer pairs were tested in 7 individuals.
Results
We obtained 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci that were further tested by the research team for deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium in 120 individuals resulting in a selection of 14 high quality polymorphic markers. This research has been published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.