| The taxonomic confusion of scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, and yellowmouth grouper, M. interstitialis is based on the similarity of meristic features, morphological features and coloration, as well the fact that each species replaces the other in distribution. DNA was isolated from scamp and yellowmouth grouper, collected from the Gulf of Mexico, using a modified DNA preparation method. The purified DNA was amplified with various primers, and the primers (CAG){dollar}sb5{dollar}, (ACTG){dollar}sb4{dollar} and (CAC){dollar}sb5{dollar}/(ACTG){dollar}sb4{dollar} yielded unique, species-specific bands and patterns. The PCR based amplification of fish DNA for these three primers could be useful for future taxonomic analysis. The telomeres of scamp, yellowmouth grouper, and greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) were identified and examined for their size in different restriction enzyme digests using the human telomeric probe, (TTAGGG){dollar}sb{lcub}rm n{rcub}.{dollar} No difference in terminal restriction fragment (TRF) sizes were identified for fish DNA digested in either EcoRI or HindIII. However, TRF size variations were found for fish DNA digested with MspI and HinfI. |
