3 ms·
What is "big cat DNA"? Are there not multiple species of big cat? Can a DNA test not be more specific? Edit: Answering my own question about the methods used:
by jamesfisher 2y ago
What is "big cat DNA"? Are there not multiple species of big cat? Can a DNA test not be more specific?
Edit: Answering my own question about the methods used: The story links to Robin Allaby's page [1] about his DNA test service. That page says he tests for "the Panthera, Puma and Lynx genera". An older story [2] describes Allaby's methods: 450 PCRs and ~600 sequence reactions. "The team searched for two gene targets each of deer and canid, but over 30 different cat gene targets."
[1]: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/research/archaeobotany/ecological_forensics/cats/ https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/research/archaeobotany...
[2]: https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/research_into_possible/ https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/research_i...