Microsatellite Marker Development in the Western Diamondback (Crotalus Atrox) and Mohave (Crotalus Scutulatus) Rattlesnake Species

Abstract

We developed novel microsatellite markers for the Crotalus atrox and Crotalus scutulatus species of rattlesnake for future use in population studies. We identified 20 loci from Crotalus atrox and 12 from Crotalus scutulatus to test for amplification and variability. We finally selected loci that showed variation with a number of alleles in diversity panel sample DNA for higher resolution testing. Future directions of this project include assessing allelic richness and variability with fragment analysis, and assessing observed and expected heterozygosity as well as deviations from Hardy-Weignberg equilibrium using the program Genepop 3.4 (Raymond and Rousset, 1995). These assessments will tell us how useful the developed markers will be for future studies in population and conservation genetics.