Isolation Of Mitochondrial DNA From The Giant Stonefly, Pteronarcys Californica

Abstract

In this study, a simplified procedure for the isolation of mitochondrial DNA from the giant stonefiy, Pteronarcys californica, was developed. The mitochondrial DNA was purified, cut with restriction endonucleases, electrophoresed on agarose gels, and stained. The isolation of mitochondrial DNA has been used in the past to analyze variations within populations of organisms. This application has proven useful in better understanding how populations have developed and evolved through time. However, until recently the isolation of mitochondrial DNA and its analysis has been a tedious process requiring extensive laboratory facilities. The generation of a simplified procedure should make these applications possible for the giant stonefiy. Although the procedure I developed did not yield mitochondrial DNA free of contaminants, the modifications introduced here do point the way for further work.