DEVELOPMENT OF A PCR BASED TEST TO DIFFERENTIATE
PADDLEFISH AND STURGEON EGGS

Scott Cooper1, Jill Mader2, Sue Kittleson1, Valerie Hyde1, Marc Rott1
1Biology/Microbiology Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La
Crosse, WI 56401  2West Salem High School, West Salem, WI  54669

Little is known about the reproductive habits of paddlefish, a threatened species
in Wisconsin and 
Minnesota.  Biologists studying paddlefish spawning grounds find it difficult to
differentiate between the eggs of paddlefish and sturgeon based upon
appearance alone.  Both species are also threatened by poaching, with their eggs
sold as caviar.  A PCR based test has been developed to amplify a portion of the
cytochrome B gene from a single paddlefish or sturgeon egg.  The presence of
distinct HincII restriction sites in the paddlefish and shovelnose sturgeon PCR
products allows for the rapid determination of whether a single egg came from a
paddlefish, shovelnose sturgeon or lake sturgeon.  These tests will eventually
allow fisheries biologists to better monitor and protect paddlefish spawning
habitats.  This test may also have forensic applications.

Keywords: paddlefish, sturgeon, PCR, Mississippi River, cytochrome B


Poster Presentation preferred

     Scott Cooper
     Biology/Microbiology Department
     UW - La Crosse
     La Crosse, WI  54601
     608-785-6983 (phone)
     608-785-6959 (FAX)
     cooper@mail.uwlax.edu