The mighty lapu-lapu (grouper)
has been fingerprinted, revealing new and valuable information on one of the
country's most expensive commodities.
The
first genetic inventory of lapu-lapu
was conducted by scientists at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) using
DNA fingerprinting and bar coding which characterized 27 species of commercially
important lapu-lapu or groupers.
In
genetics, DNA fingerprintings isolate and make images of sequences of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA barcoding uses a short genetic marker in the DNA
to identify it as belonging to a particular species.
The
study was conducted by Simon Alcanta and Dr. Apolinario V. Yambot of CLSU's
Biotechnology and Analytical Laboratory Project.
The
biotechnology tool DNA bar coding made possible the identification of grouper
specimens at the species-level with a high degree of confidence and efficiency.
Previous
studies were based only on morphology or the characterization of the form and
structure and the specific structural features of lapu-lapu which may be
inconclusive and may cause confusion on grouper taxonomy especially without a
trained specialist.
Mr.
Alcantara, the principal author, observes the DNA identification is generally
challenging because of lapu-lapu's
unpronounced and overlapping morphological characters.
''In
the Philippines, an updated, reliable and accurate inventory of this high value
commercial groupers has not been carried out previously. Using molecular tools
in the identification and inventory of fish species in the country is confined
to few laboratories and experts in the country.''
Aside
from reinforcing the classical methodology of grouper identification in the
country, the pioneering study on molecular identification of Philippine
groupers constitutes a significant contribution to the DNA barcode library of
Philippine marine fishes and to the global barcode entries in general.
The
information can be used when dealing with grouper taxonomy, biodiversity, stock
assessment and trade. The results also reveal the
different localities where the grouper species can be possibly sourced out in
the country for trade and aquaculture purposes.
The
initiative identified the highly diverse grouper population in the country with
an average rate of 20 percent genetic distance within family, 15 percent within
genus, and 0.68 percent within species.
Using a genetic marker, 94 bar codes were generated to identify and
differentiate the 27 lapu-lapu species. Most of the identified species include
groupers belonging to the large sea fish (Epinephelus), aquarium fish
(Cephalopholis) and the species of leopard coral grouper, spotted coral grouper
and black saddled coral grouper (Plectropomus). Slender grouper (Anyperodon
leucogrammicus) and humpback grouper (Chromileptis altivelis) were also
identified.
New
genetic information for dothead rockcod (Cephalopholis microprion), blue-lined
grouper (Cephalopholis polleni) and dot-dash grouper (Epinephelus poecilonotus)
was not available in the GenBank database prior to the study.
The
GenBank is an annotated collection of all publicly available DNA sequences.
This database is hosted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in
the United States to provide the international scientific community with
up-to-date and comprehensive information on DNA sequences for research, trade,
management and aquaculture.
Six
of the identified grouper species are listed as vulnerable and near-threatened
species in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of
Threatened Species. As a tool for conservation ecology, the study signals the
implementation of sustainable fisheries management regulation to protect
threatened species.
In lapu-lapu, these include the black
saddled coral grouper, humpback grouper and orange-spotted grouper (E.
coioides), black marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus), Malabar grouper (E.
malabaricus) and the leopard coral grouper.
The
study, supported by the Biotechnology Program of the Department of Agriculture. (SciencePhilippines)
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