Preliminary genetic analysis of the green turtle, chelonia mydas, in the arabian gulf using mitochondrial DNA

Recent population genetic research using maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have proved to unravel questions regarding the distribution and population dynamics of different sea turtle populations. The population genetics of the Green Turtle was investigated in the Arabian Gulf for the first time. In this preliminary study, samples were obtained from foraging turtles off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and mitochondrial DNA-Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (mtDNA-SSCP) of the mitochondrial control region was used in order to assess any genetic variation that may be present. This analysis revealed two types of mtDNA patterns, suggesting a mixed population of Green Turtles in this region. This study provides a basis for future genetic studies with the final aim to fit the Green Turtles from the Arabian Gulf into the overall phylogeography for the species.