Improved noninvasive genotyping method:: application to brown bear (Ursus arctos) faeces

We redesigned new microsatellite primers and one sex-specific primer for amplification of faecal DNA from brown bears (Ursus arctos). We also combined a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a newly developed multiplex preamplification method in order to increase the quality of the amplified DNA fragments. In comparison with a conventional PCR approach, the genotyping error rate was substantially reduced and the amplification rate was increased. This new approach could be transposed to other species where conventional PCR methods experience low success due to limited DNA concentration and/or quality.