Diagnostic Polymorphisms in the Mitochondrial DNA Allow Discrimination among Cervus elaphus Species

Abstract

Velvet antlers from Cervus elaphus species are one of most famous and commonly used medicinal materials in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, the variation in DNA sequences of the mitochondrial ATPase8 and cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI) genes of Cervus elaphus from China, the Republic of Altai, and Canada were evaluated. In addition, the sequence variation among Sika deer, Rein deer and Cervus elaphus species was also evaluated. Although the sequences of deer from the Republic of Altai and Canada were very similar, polymorphisms that were conserved in each species were observed in the ATPase8 and COI genes. Therefore, these polymorphic markers could be used to distinguish Cervus elaphus antlers from different locations.