Overview on the development and application of

timber identification methods – Genetics

Andrew Lowe

University of Adelaide, Australia; and Double Helix Tracking Technologies, Singapore

DNA extraction

Raw timber

Sawn timber

Solid wood product

Ancient wood

Composite products

(veneer, ply)Pulp and

paper

Intact DNA Highly degraded

DNA

Tech

no

logy fro

ntie

r

SOURCE: DOUBLEHELIX TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

Distinguish between individuals DNA fingerprinting

Distinguish between populations Population genetics

Distinguish between speciesDNA barcoding

SOURCE: LOWE & CROSS, 2011

DNA analysis – species, region and individuals

Method Dead

tissue

Low conc

DNA

No PCR comments

Isotopes 👎 - - Only fresh leaves

RFLP 👍 👎 - Dried leaves

PCR RFLP 👍 👍👎 👎 References?

Microsatellites 👍 👍👎 👎 Standardisation?

Gene sequencing 👍 👍👎 👎👍 Short genes &

NGS

SNPs 👍 👍 👍 Best method

Species identification using DNA

barcoding

Glued oak timber is declared as

“Siberian oak “

The piece of timber is composed

of a mixture of European and

Mongolian oak

wood sample

Mo

ngo

lian

oak re

f

Euro

pean o

ak re

f

1 1 2 2

SNP chip to distinguish between

sandalwood species applied to

timber products

SOURCE: CRAWFORD, 2016

Region of origin using population

genetics

FP

4

SOURCE: PETIT ET AL., 2002; CAVERS ET AL., 2013

Genographic map

generated for Ayous

with 182 SNP markers

Four genetic clusters

with high (>95%) assignment

Blind test of wood samples

from across Africa gave

75% accuracy for region

of origin assignmentSOURCE: JARDINE ET AL., 2016

Individal identity using DNA fingerprinting

Human DNA fingerprinting international standardization using microsatellites,

for timber we can use SNPs

DNA Fingerprinting of maple• 430 individuals from 40 populations• 135 variable SNPs screened• Significant genetic structure• Individualisation probability 1 x 1023

SOURCE: JARDINE ET AL., 2015

PrimaryMatched back

International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime

Dormontt et al (2015) Biological Conservation. Lowe et al (2016) BioScience

Advances and future priorities

Methods

• DNA extraction

• SNP and amplicon sequencing

Required future activities

• Extend species, markers and genographic maps

• Global database of results (accessibility?)

SOURCE: CIAT INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURE

Thanks to

• University of Adelaide

– Elly Dormontt, Kor Jent van Dijk, Duncan Jardine, Bianca Dunker, Rainbo Belton, Marlee Crawford

• Double Helix Tracking Technologies

– Darren Thomas, Avalyn Lim, Soo Lin Goh, Max Horowitz-Burdick

• von Thunen Institute, ECCDI (Myanmar), FORDA (Indonesia)

• ITTO, ACIAR, Department for Agriculture (Australia)

For further information:

Email andrew.lowe@adelaide.edu.au

University of Adelaide, Environment Institute - http://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/

DoubleHelix - http://www.doublehelixtracking.com

Blog www.BiodiversityRevolution.org.au Twitter @profalowe

Bio and papers– http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/andrew.lowe Google Scholar