Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Detect Market Substitution of Atlantic Salmon for Pacific Salmon: An Introductory Biology Laboratory Experiment

• Published in: The American Biology Teacher
• Main Authors: Cline, Erica, Gogarten, Jennifer
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of California Press 2012
• Subjects: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous); Education; Pacific; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/abt.2012.74.4.7; https://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/74/4/244/523211/abt_2012_74_4_7.pdf

We describe a laboratory exercise developed for the cell and molecular biology quarter of a year-long majors’ undergraduate introductory biology sequence. In an analysis of salmon samples collected by students in their local stores and restaurants, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used to detect market substitution of Atlantic salmon for Pacific salmon. This allowed students to apply molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing to a socially relevant issue.