Abstract

Recent advances in molecular biology have permitted the application of modern DNA techniques to the study of population genetics of large whale species. Among the most commonly used techniques is sequencing analysis of a portion of the maternal inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and analysis of bi-parental inherited nuclear DNA (nDNA) using microsatellites. In the context of the conservation and management of large whales these molecular tools have been used to i) clarify the taxonomic status of certain species, ii) elucidate population structure and iii) investigate the species identity (and population in certain cases) of whale products in the retail market. The combined use of both mtDNA and nDNA presents several advantages for these studies. Each of these applications is illustrated with a case-study: i) taxonomy of the minke whale, ii) Antarctic humpback whale population structure and iii) list of species identified from whale products in the Japanese retail market.