Problematic barcoding in flatworms: A case-study on monogeneans and rhabdocoels (Platyhelminthes).

ABSTRACT: Some taxonomic groups are less amenable to mitochondrial DNA barcoding than others. Due to the paucity of molecular information of understudied groups and the huge molecular diversity within flatworms, primer design has been hampered. Indeed, all attempts to develop universal flatworm-specific COI markers have failed so far. We demonstrate how high molecular variability and contamination problems limit the possibilities for barcoding using standard COI-based protocols in flatworms. As a consequence, molecular identification methods often rely on other widely applicable markers. In the case of Monogenea, a very diverse group of platyhelminth parasites, and Rhabdocoela, representing one-fourth of all free-living flatworm taxa, this has led to a relatively high availability of nuclear ITS and

SUBMITTER: Vanhove MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3890687 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature