Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationship Among Eight Species of Order: Rodentia in Egypt Based on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Marker

Abstract

Of all mammals the rodents have an importance and great diversity. The phylogenetic relationships between the different species of the order Rodentia has an interest and investigations for many researchers. The current study suggests the ability of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR to estimate the genetic distance and reflect the genetic relations and variability among eight rodent species of order Rodentia in Egypt. After the use of five arbitrary short primers (OPA-4, OPT-7, OPG-2, OPN-4 and OPM-1) to generate polymorphic, reproducible and score able bands. The results explained that, the highest genetic distance 1 was pronounced between Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus praetextus similarly between Mus musculus domesticus and Rattus norvegicus. This is followed by the genetic distance between Mesocricetus auratus and Mus musculus domesticus as well as between Cavia porcellus and Rattus norvegicus. Nonetheless, the lowest genetic distance 0.31 was noticeable between Mus musculus praetextus and Mus musculus musculus.