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Phenotypic and Molecular Identification of Marine Sponges from
Order Suberitida off Pulau Bidong
Nor Rashidah Binti Hassan
Supervisor: Dr Jasnizat Bin Saidin
Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology)
School of Marine & Environmental Sciences
In Malaysia, the study of marine sponges’ taxonomy is still undeveloped due to
limited numbers of experts in this field. Investigation of sponges’ diversity is
difficult due to the simplicity and plasticity of their morphological
characteristics. The sponges under order Suberitida was chosen due to its
diversities and interesting bioactivities such as anticancer, antibacterial and
antiatherosclerosis. Previously many of the sponges under this order have been
identified fully based on its morphological characteristics and were misidentified
as the other species. Here, in this study the molecular identification was done
and the results were compared with morphological identification data. This
study showed that sponges which shared almost the same morphology and set
of spicules were identified as a different genus by using DNA barcoding. As
conclusion the taxonomic validation of those species using DNA barcoding
should be a standard procedure in this applied area for the research.
1794 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018