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The work aims to provide rapid species-specific DNA-based assays for duck, pheasant, venison, donkey, horse and wild boar in meat products. This will be achieved by:
<ul><li>
Identifying and sequencing variable regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of each species.
<li>Designing species-specific primers to produce single PCR amplicons in the presence of the desired meat species, a strategy which has already been shown to be successful in a previously funded project (AN0695). Primers will be designed to allow detection by both gel visualisation and by the Taqman system.</ul>
Food labelling regulations require that the species of meat present in meat containing products be accurately identified. This has led to the need for reliable and specific methods of meat species determination in products. DNA techniques dependent on the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) have been shown to be successful in comparison to traditional protein based methods of meat authentication. PCR is highly specific and can be sensitive for target DNA.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.