Molecular identification of genus Conus (Conidae gastropoda) at Verde Island, Batangas, Philippines using mitochondrial gene markers cytochrome oxidase 1 and 16s rRNA / Ruthela P. Payawal

Thesis (Master of Science in Biology) -- Central Luzon State University, September 2018.

The Verde Island Passage is home to a great diversity of marine organisms. Given its
diversity, this presents an opportunity for discovering economically and pharmacologically
important Conus species of which a record on the available and remaining Conus species in the
area is needed in building data on the regional collection of this group. To gather accurate data,
identification using mitochondrial gene markers l6S rRNA and COI were employed.
Forty-five (45) samples were collected and initially separated by phenotype. DNA was
extracted and the mitochondrial CO1 and 16S gene markers were amplified using Polymerase
Chain Reaction using specific primers. Sequences were assembled and subjected to NCBI BLAST
for identification. Molecular phylogeny was generated using Neighbor Joining, Maximum
Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood Methods.
Twenty-one (21) distinct species were identified for both the gene markers. Phylogenetic
analysis in both gene markers of majority of the samples revealed consistency with the molecular
phylogeny of Conus species. Twenty six (26) samples had matching identities using the two gene
markers, thereby confirming their species identification. Eleven samples (11) had differences in
identification. Tree topologies in both COI and 16S rRNA were essentially similar. Most species
formed well defined lineages and consistent clades with robust statistical supports.