A fast and effective method to perform paternity testing for Wolong giant pandas

Researchers developed a highly effective method for paternity testing in captive giant pandas, achieving 100% accuracy using two highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. This approach significantly advances conservation efforts by enabling precise genetic identification of fathers, crucial for managing captive populations and selecting individuals for reintroduction programs. The study demonstrated that the success rate of paternity exclusion correlates with genetic diversity parameters such as number of alleles (Na), expected heterozygosity (HE), and observed homozygosity (FO). A novel variable, Na×HE/FO, was introduced to assess microsatellite marker performance, showing a strong positive correlation with resolution power. This method not only streamlines paternity testing but also provides a criterion for selecting optimal markers, applicable beyond giant pandas to other captive endangered species.

Li, D., Cui, H., Wang, C., Ling, S., Huang, Z., & Zhang, H. (2011). A fast and effective method to perform paternity testing for Wolong giant pandas. Chinese Science Bulletin, 56(24), 2559–2564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4571-3