DNA barcoding based on 16S mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Molecular Marker of Mangrove Clams from the Selected Sites of Davao Region, Philippines

Aims: The taxonomic identification of mangrove clams was confirmed using DNA barcoding based on 16S Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome.

Study design: DNA was extracted from adductor muscle of mangrove clams sample. Purified DNA were sequenced and DNA barcode was generated.

Place and duration of the study: The Mangrove Clams samples used in the study were collected from Malita, Davao Occidental; Santa Cruz, Davao Del Sur; Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines from January 2021 to June 2021.

Methodology: DNA was extracted from Adductor muscle of mangrove clams using the Promega GoTaq PCR kit. The extracted DNA were then purified and viewed using the Gel Electrophoresis. The Purified DNA samples were then sequenced and various softwares were then utilized such as sequenced assembly and alignment namely Basic Local Search Tool (BLAST) and Barcode Of Life Database(BOLD) and phylogenetic tree was generated.

Results: There are two species morphologically identified as Anodontia philippiana (Reeve, 1850) and Austriella corrugata (Deshayes, 1843) from Davao region. BLAST search established the two species to be closely related to Anodontia (Cavatidens) omissa (Iredale, 1930) and Phacoides pectinatus (Gmelin, 1791), also a member of the Lucinidae family.

Conclusion: In this study, the taxonomic identification of the two Mangrove Clams species were further elucidated using the 16S Mitochondrial DNA marker.