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About Mollusc Molecular News

1 June 2001
This is the FOURTH issue of Mollusc Molecular News, an informal newsletter for researchers working with mollusc DNA and RNA. Most of our contributors are doing population genetics or systematics but we welcome other molecular biologists too. The six years since the last “paper” issue of the MMN in July 1995 have seen an exponential increase in the number of mollusc DNA papers published and in the number of PCR primers useful in molluscs. Fortunately we now have on-line database software that enables researchers to find the information and PCR primers and protocols they need for their project without having to read through the whole (rapidly growing) list.

There have been several exciting developments since the last issue. Many laboratories are using microsatellite (SSR) primers and AFLP primers to obtain high resolution population structure of mollusc populations. Improvements in methods of DNA extraction have allowed researchers to extract DNA from individual mollusc larvae. Researchers have developed protocols to extract DNA from mollusc specimens fixed in formalin. More complete mitochondrial genomes are now available for molluscs, as are more “universal” primers for the nuclear genome.

Mollusc Molecular News is most useful when you keep us up to date with your latest research plans, techniques, and publications. Please use our on-line submission pages to share your expertise with others in the field.

Dr. Elizabeth Boulding       boulding@uoguelph.ca

p.s. This is the first web only issue of this newsletter. Please email me your comments and suggestions for improvements or changes.

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