Development of a new SNP panel for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)

Population genetic research is a critical tool for the conservation and management of marine mammals other species. The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) subject to aboriginal subsistence hunting in Alaska, Canada, Chukotka, Greenland managed by International Whaling Commission all those countries except Canada. Genetic studies support plans determination safe quotas providing information on levels diversity, estimates abundance effective population size, stock separation. Because populations are monitored several countries, including monitoring, there need methods that can be consistently used multiple labs provide comparable data publicly shared built upon successive studies. Here we present new panel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), derived from populations, meet criteria. We describe use Fluidigm SNPtype assay analyzing 69 autosomal, 6 X-chromosome, 1 Y-chromosome SNPs. Results indicate herein reliable have low error rates. SNPs discrete sequence-based markers, loci described here replicated, different labs, directly comparable, making more useful than existing microsatellite markers.