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Morphological Characteristics and Optimization of DNA and
PCR Products of Stingless Bee (Heterotrigona itama) in Terengganu
Nurul Asyiqin binti Md Zin
Supervisor: Dr. Wan Bayani Wan Omar
Co-Supervisor: Prof Madya Dr Wahizatul Afzan Azmi
Bachelor of Applied Science
(Biodiversity Conservation and Management)
School of Marine Science and Environment
Heterotrigona itama is one of the most preferred stingless bee species in
beekeeping activity in Malaysia and mostly found in Southeast Asia. Two
objectives of this study are to measure and compare morphological
characteristics between 2 colonies of H. Itama from Taman Pertanian Sekayu
and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UnisZA) Tembila also to run an optimization
of DNA and PCR products using RAPD technique. Regarding morphological
study, twenty individuals from each colony were measured under dissecting
microscope attached to Dino Lens. Meanwhile, another eight individuals were
taken from both colonies and extracted using Qiagen's DNA Blood and Tissue
Kit. Primers OPA-12 and OPA 16 were chosen for DNA amplification. As for
morphological study, there were significant differences in thorax length,
abdomen length and fore-wing width. As for the optimization of DNA and PCR
products, low concentration of DNA were obtained in four extracted individuals.
OPA-12 is the most optimum primer yielding a good PCR gel image.
1749 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018