PCR Based Molecular Characterization of Cyanobacteria with Special Emphasis on Non-Heterocystous Filamentous Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria have an ancient history dating almost 3.5 billion years and diversified extensively to become one of the most successful and ecologically significant organisms on earth, with respect to longevity of lineage and impact on earth’s early environment. Despite the availability of various monograph based on morphological and ecological variants, the identification and classification of cyanobacteria remain a difficult and confusing task leading to uncertain identifications. Therefore, molecular approaches based on PCR techniques and DNA fingerprinting have been adopted for taxonomical studies. Molecular markers such as RAPD, RFLP and AFLP are used for the PCR techniques.