Molecular Identification of Lobster Species Based on Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene characters.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> In the puerulus phase, which is not pigmented, identification of lobster species based on morphological characteristics is still difficult identity, so it is necessary to identify based on molecular characters. This study aimed to analyze the mitochondrial subunit I cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene characters of the puerulus of lobster species. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The data can be useful for developing lobster seed identification methods based on DNA characteristics. Location of lobster sampling in Staring Bay, coastal waters of Moramo District, South Konawe Regency, Indonesia. The molecular characterization method is carried out in several stages, namely specific primer design, DNA preparation, PCR with specific primers, DNA sequencing and DNA sequence analysis. Characteristics of COI gene fragments were analyzed using BLAST analysis, restriction enzyme analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis. <b>Results:</b> The results showed that DNA was successfully isolated with a high level of purity. The results of the amplification of the COI gene fragment showed thick and firm bands and formed a single band measuring 751 bp with 249 amino acids. Based on the BLAST analysis shows that the COI gene fragment has 99% similarity with <i>Panulirus homarus</i>. Based restriction enzyme analysis shows that the site of recognition and restriction enzyme cutting position in the <i>Panulirus</i> COI gene fragment is the same as <i>Panulirus homarus</i> in Genebank, the <i>Ase</i>I enzyme in position 392 and <i>Psi </i>I in positions 47 and 106. <b>Conclusion:</b> Based on phylogenetic tree analysis, the COI gene fragment is in one group with <i>Panulirus homarus</i> and has a bootstrap value of 100% which shows that the nucleotide sequence is stable. The three analyzes show that the DNA source organism is the same species as <i>Panulirus homarus</i>.