Application of Microsatellite DNA Markers in Population Genetics Studies of Freshwater Gastropoda*

This paper summarizes the methods of obtaining microsatellite loci of freshwater gastropoda and the characteristics of microsatellite,and emphatically analyzes the application of microsatellite markers in the population genetics studies of freshwater gastropoda,including population genetic diversity,genetic structure,genetic differentiation,mating system and genetic relationship.Heterozygote def iciency is a common phenomenon in freshwater gastropoda,and it often causes the loss of population genetic diversity.The common explanations to genetic differentiation of freshwater gastropoda are inbreeding,self-fertilization and geographical isolation.The population genetics characteristics can be analyzed by microsatellite polymorphism markers.To a certain extent,heterozygosity,with population inbreeding and gene differentiation coefficients,can reflect the mating system of freshwater gastropoda.On the basis of genetic distance and genetic similarity,the result of cluster analysis can discriminate genetic relationship of the populations of freshwater gastropoda.According to the characteristics of freshwater gastropoda,microsatellite molecular markers have a broad application in the research of invasive biology,taxonomic category and molecular epidemiology of parasites.