Molecular Species Identification of Forensically Important Insects (Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Phoridae)

Background: A simple, rapid method using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within the cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI) of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) allows identification of insects and other organisms. Objective: We used the method to identify the morphologically early instar larvae of Chrysomya. albiceps (Calliphoriadae), Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Sarcophagidae), Lucillia sericata (Calliphorida), Megaselia scalaris (Phoridae) that are important in forensic entomology for estimating the time of death. Materials and Methods: Larval specimens were collected and then the mtDNA genome were extracted and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against COI gene. The PCR products were sequenced and the obtained sequences were identified using blast search and then were analyzed for species specific restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Results:Rate of genetic variation between species was high enough to find restriction enzymes (RE) that were able to produce species-specific RFLP profiles. BsrI provided diagnostic bands for identification of the four fly species. Conclusion:The results of this study showed that molecular markers such as RFLPs enhancing the use of evidence from flies in forensic investigation

کلیدواژه ها:

Diptera ، forensic entomology ، Identification ، COI ، PCR-RFLP.