เครือข่ายส่งเสริมธุรกิจเทคโนโลยีและนวัตกรรม
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เทคโนโลยีพร้อมถ่ายทอด
Although the mitochondrial DNA of four out of five native Pila spp. has previously been sequenced (Thaewnon-ngiw et al. 2004), the data was not made available on public databases, e.g., GENBANK. DNA barcodes are particularly useful in identifying ampullariids, which are notoriously difficult to be distinguished based on shell morphology alone, as different species can look highly similar, while intra-species shell morphology can vary according to environmental conditions (Hayes et al. 2009). The availability of DNA barcodes would serve two purposes. Firstly, voucher specimens from Thailand would contribute important material to complement existing DNA sequences and shells of Pila spp. from other parts of Southeast Asia (Ng 2016) to resolve the confused taxonomy of the genus at least 12 species of Pila, with more than 35 synonyms and variants have been recorded from Southeast Asia (Cowie 2015). Secondly, the population genetic diversity (or lack thereof) can provide evidence if a species is native, or if it has been introduced by humans (Hayes et al. 2008; Grindon & Davison 2013). The close association of Pila spp. with humans may have resulted in anthropogenic translocations, for instance, Pila ampullacea that was previously never found in central Thailand, was collected from Phangnga in the 2000s, where the species was being used as traditional medicine by locals (Thaewnon-ngiw et al. 2003). Populations of Pila scutata from Singapore and Malaysia, where they are considered native but found only in human-disturbed areas, were discovered to have extremely low genetic variability and share a single haplotype (Ng 2016). This low variability is characteristic of introduced populations that experienced a genetic bottleneck, as was recorded from Pila scutata introduced to Hawaii (Tran et al. 2008). Population genetics may provide some information as to whether the native Pila spp. in Thailand have been translocated by humans, of if their current habitats are reflective of their natural distribution. This information will be vital as human-introduced populations may result in erroneous conclusions about the biogeography of the genus, and have implications for the conservation of the snails.
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