DNA Mini-barcoding for wildlife trade control: a case study on identification of highly processed animal materials.

Although DNA barcoding is an efficient tool for species identification, however, its efficiency is uncertain for samples having degraded DNA and incomplete isolation/amplification of COI gene fragment (>500 bp). DNA mini-barcoding is a solution to this problem because small DNA fragment of COI genes is used for species identification. Twelve highly processed, chemically treated and finished animal skin (coats, tanned skins) and fur (mufflers) samples, received from the Sindh Wildlife Department, Pakistan, were subjected to DNA mini-barcoding.