Research Projects

The study proposes the development of a DNA microarray-based bio-chip for the rapid onsite detection of commercially important products of shrimp and seerfish species in India. The bio-chip will be activated using filter paper and will detect the target species based on hydridization. The study aims to highlight the necessity of implementing traceability and monitoring programs along the entire seafood supply chain using molecular tools. Protein-based analytical methods like isoelectric focusing (IEF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have limited applicability for highly processed food due to protein denaturation. DNA analytical methods like PCR-RFLP, AFLP, RAPD, SNP, RT-PCR, and Microsatellites offer a promising alternative for reliable species differentiation even in heat processed foods. However, these methods are laborious, time-consuming, and expensive. The DNA chip-based sensor is a modern diagnostic technique that increases the sensitivity and specificity of traditional diagnostic tests. The study hypothesizes that mislabeling occurs in finfish and shellfish products in the seafood sector, which can be detected through the developed filter paper-based DNA bio-chip, which can be applied even for heat processed samples.