Detecting genetic similarity and genetic divergence between the male and female flour beetle Tribolium confusum and the male and female puzzling flour beetle Tribolium castaneum through the use of molecular primers within the RAPD technique

The two species, the similar flour beetle Tribolium confusum and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, belong to the Coleoptera order, the Tenebrionidae family. They are similar in appearance and it is difficult to distinguish them. In this study, 12 random primers were used, 6 of which were used in the RAPD method. The DNA was extracted, and then the purity of the samples used was confirmed by using the Bio Drop device. The purity of the samples used ranged between values 1.8-2 nanometers.Use a 1-kb DNA ladder. RAPD-PCR analysis yielded 64 molecular bands divided into 49 unique bands and 15 divergent bands. The random primer OPE-19 gave the highest number of total packets, about 19 packets. The random primer OPL-07-K gave the lowest number of total bands of 5 bands. The random primer OPA-11 gave the highest number of unique packets of 13 packets. The random primer OPL-07-K gave the lowest number of unique bands of 3. Random primer OPA-15 gave the highest number of divergent bands of 8. Random primer OPE-19 gave the highest efficiency value of 29.687%. The random primer OPL-07-K and OPA-15 gave the lowest efficiency value of 7.812%. The OPE-19 random primer gave the highest estimated discriminative value of 53.33%. The random primer OPA-15, OPA-11, and OPA-13 gave the lowest discriminatory ability of 6.66%. To find out the genetic matrix and the dendrogram, the MVSP program was used, and the genetic convergence matrix showed the presence of genetic differences between the studied samples. Genetic difference values were extracted by using a mathematical equation.