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Potential and limitations of applying molecular markers in ecological research
Lei Dongmei, Duan Changqun, Xu Xiaoyong
Department of Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091
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Abstract  

In recent decades, molecular markers have been applied extensively in ecological studies, and shown the importance in further our understanding of ecosystem and function. This potentiality represents several points including: ① The molecular markers are applied primarily in population ecology at present. In the future, greater potential of utilizing molecular markers will be realized in the study of evolutionary ecology, conservation ecology, restoration ecology and ecosystem ecology; ②some molecular markers will be used in brand new research areas; ③ several different molecular markers will be combined in solving questions in order to improve data quality; ④ with new molecular marker to be developed, novel and extensive development will be foreseen in the area of ecology. However, molecular markers also have associated limitations when they are used in ecological investigations, such as high running cost, low repetitions, and radioactive problems. It is important to choose and optimize different molecular markers when different ecological issues are to be addressed.

Key wordsMolecular markers      Ecology      Potentiality and limitation     
Received: 25 August 2002     
:  Q346  
  X171  
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Lei Dongmei
Duan Changqun
Xu Xiaoyong
Cite this article:   
Lei Dongmei,Duan Changqun,Xu Xiaoyong. Potential and limitations of applying molecular markers in ecological research[J]. , 2002, 21(4): 361-365.
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http://www.ecolsci.com/EN/     OR     http://www.ecolsci.com/EN/Y2002/V21/I4/361
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