Study on genetic variability of blood ark, Anadara cornea at east coast of peninsular Malaysia using random amplified polymorphic DNA: A preliminary assessment

The genetic variability among individuals of Anadara cornea from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu was examined by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. The genomic DNAwasextracted from the clam by using Macherey-Nigel DNA kitandwas amplified by RAPD technique with five primers (OPA O3, OPA O9, OPA 17, OPA 19 and OPA 20) for twenty samples of A. cornea.A total of 79 RAPD bands with 78 polymorphic bands (98%) with size ranging from 150-3700 bp were identified from the population indicate that the population of A. corneahas high level of polymorphism due to low inbreeding factor within a population. High polymorphism of A. cornearevealed that this species has genetically variable. The results of this study can be useful to the sustainable management of wild stocks of this species. Further study should be done for a better understanding about variation and also for conservation and management of this species.