MOLECULAR TOOLS IN CONSERVATION GENETICS :- DNA Barcoding, MICROSATELLITE, eDNA

Abstract Conservation geneticsrelies on molecular tools to study genetic variation within and among populations of species. These tools help inform conservation efforts by providing insights into population dynamics, genetic diversity, and species interactions. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to the genetic material present in environmental samples such as sediment, water, and air. It includes whole cells, extracellular DNA, and potentially even whole organisms. Organisms shed DNA into their environments naturally, and eDNA analysis allows us to detect and study this genetic material without disrupting the ecosystem. Analysis has become a valuable tool for detecting the presence of species in their natural habitats. Microsatellites are short, repetitive DNA sequences found throughout the genome. They are highly polymorphic and exhibit variation in the number of repeats. Microsatellites are commonly used to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and relatedness among individuals within a population. DNA barcoding is a technique used in conservation genetics to identify and classify species based on short, standardized DNA sequences. This method relies on analyzing specific regions of an organism’s genome that exhibit high variation between species but remain relatively conserved within species.Unlike physical surveys, eDNA analysis doesn’t disrupt the ecosystem. Provides insights into both bacterial and eukaryotic species in various sample types (aquatic, soil, etc.). DNA barcoding provides a rapid and accurate means of identifying species, particularly in cases where traditional morphological identification is challenging due to cryptic species,incomplete specimens, or taxonomic uncertainties. By comparing the DNA barcode of an unknownsample to a reference database of known species, researchers can quickly determine its species identity. Key Words – eDNA, DNA Barcoding, Conservation, Microsatellite.