EFFICIENCY OF TRADITIONAL DNA EXTRACTION METHOD IN PCR DETECTION OF PORCINE DNA IN MEAT MIXTURES

Through the advancement of biotechnology, DNA-based methods are the most effective techniques in species identification, as they are rapid and have higher stability in harsh conditions compared to protein-based methods. This study was conducted to determine the efficiency of the traditional DNA extraction method, phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (PCIA), and comparing it with the commercially available kit by evaluating the purity, concentration, and suitability for amplification of porcine DNA in raw chicken and beef mixtures. The quantity and quality of the DNA extracts were assessed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using species-specific primers targeting mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of chicken (227-bp), beef (274-bp), and pork (398-bp), to confirm the template usability and quality of the DNA extracts. High DNA concentrations and purity were obtained from meat samples extracted using the PCIA method. The visualization of pork DNA on 2% agarose gel was able to detect pork contamination in raw meat mixtures up to minute proportion (1%). The existence of pork in chicken and beef was indicated with the presence of a specific 398-bp DNA band. Thus, the PCIA method can be recommended as a cost-effective and an excellent alternative to more expensive extraction kits in detecting pork DNA in raw meat mixtures.