Molecular Markers for Genetic Diversity Studies of European Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) Populations

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to give an overview of different molecular techniques which have been used in studies concerning population genetic issues of Lepus species and specifically of L. europaeus. The importance of these researches is ever-growing as the European populations of the brown hare have suffered several falloffs as a consequent upon both natural and anthropogenic effects. With developing tools and techniques molecular genetics have become the centrepiece of population genetics and conservation biology. Nucleic acid methods based on both bi- and uniparentally inherited DNA (allozymes, microsatellites, Y chromosome, mtDNA) are often used to study genetic structure, diversity and phylogeography of different species’ populations due to their effectiveness in identifying genetic variability.

Keywords

• brown hare
• genetic methods
• review