Identification and Record of DNA Barcode of Iranian Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)

Because of vast Habitat diversity, Iran harbors a unique plant and animal biodiversity. National conservation programs has begun 50 years ago in Iran, but nonetheless, the rate of extinction of animal species in this country is high and every year a list of Iranian endangered or threatened animal and plant species is published on the IUCN Red List. DNA barcoding is a molecular tool that uses standardized genetic primers, and amplification of a segment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, to classify species. In recent years, this technique has become gradually widespread for the study and classification of species to prioritize biodiversity conservation activities.Iranian Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is an endangered livestock breed with distribution in northwest of Iran. Given its severe population decline, it is important to pay more attention to this breed from a biodiversity conservation perspective. In this study, 6 Iranian Bactrian camel specimens were sampled and after DNA extraction the Barcode segment of mitochondrial COI gene was amplified and sequenced. Following bioinformatics analysis, the DNA barcode of the Iranian Bactrian camel was identified and recorded in the DNA Barcode of life Database (BoldSystem) with all habitat and morphological characteristics of the samples.