Characterization of tetranucleotide microsatellite loci and development and validation of multiplex reactions for the study of right whale species (genus Eubalaena)

Abstract A North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis ) genomic library was developed and screened with a (GATA) 8 probe to identify tetranucleotide microsatellite loci. Sixteen characterized loci were polymorphic in North Atlantic and/or South Atlantic ( Eubalaena australis ) right whales, 12 being polymorphic in E. glacialis , and 15 in E. australis . Fourteen of these were combined with 21 other previously identified loci for a suite of 35 loci which can be used to increase resolution of genetic analyses of these species. Multiplex reactions were developed for genotyping samples at these loci, providing a method that is rapid, reliable and cost‐effective.