Procedure for the genetic identification of all global species of hake, Merluccius spp., in commercial products

The object of the invention is the genetic identification of hake, Merluccius spp.: M. merluccius, M. senegalensis, M. polli, M. capensis, M. paradoxus, M. productus, M. gayi, M. australis, M. hubbsi, M. albidus, M. angustimanus and M. bilinearis, in commercial products. The procedure is characterized by 1) amplifying a 122 bp fragment of the cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA, to determine the presence of hake in a sample, 2) by amplifying a 464-465 bp fragment of the same gene and digesting it with endonucleases of restriction, and 3) by the analysis of combined patterns of the fragments obtained, to differentiate unequivocally the 12 species of hake and cod, in all types of fresh, frozen and precooked products and by-products. Applicable in the sectors: food, health, importer, and fisheries forensic.