Analysis of the composition of a mixed sample of closely related organisms using next-generation DNA barcoding

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 39:Agricultural and environmental biology and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Suyama Yoshihisa 東北大学, 農学研究科, 教授 (60282315)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 次世代DNAシーケンシング / DNA品種識別 / 古代DNA / 環境DNA / 品種偽装抑止

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a DNA analysis technology to clarify the composition of mixed samples of closely related biological tissues. Specifically, we 1) identified the constituent varieties of processed foods, and 2) analyzed the composition of plant species contained in sedimentary soil. Regarding 1), we demonstrated that basic compositional analysis is possible with simple mixed samples using commercially available processed foods of legume varieties by applying the MIG-seq method (Suyama and Matsuki, 2015). Regarding 2), in addition to samples of sedimentary soil under typical forest vegetation, sedimentary soil of ancient ruins was also used as a target sample, and the MPM-seq (Suyama et al. 2022) and target capture methods were used to analyze them. It has become clear that analysis is possible.

Free Research Field

森林分子生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、加工食品等において使用されているごく近縁な品種を見分けることができることを示しているため、たとえば品種偽装を抑止できる可能性がある。また、たとえば環境DNA分析においてより近縁な生物種等を識別できる可能性を示している。特に考古学における古代DNA分析において、過去に存在していた近縁種の識別を可能にするだけでなく、たとえば地域系統の識別や個体数の推定など、その応用の範囲は広いため、この分野の研究の進展に寄与できると考えられる。