Genetic Variation of Snakehead Fish (Channa striata) Populations Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA

The objectives of this research were focused on the genetic relationships among four populations of Channa striata distributed in Peninsular Malaysia. A set of OPA primer with 10-mer was used to assay polymorphisms among populations. Different RAPD fragment pattern were observed for different locations. A total of 8 primers produced 42 polymorphic bands among all populations. Using this technique, only slight differences in genetic diversity were detected among locations of Channa striata within Peninsular Malaysia although the diversity of all locations analyzed together differed from the reference populations. Differences in genetic distance between populations may be due to selection pressure of pollutants on fish. These results are discussed in relation to implications of RAPD assays in the evaluation of genetic diversity.