Hi Daniel,

there are such test. For chelonians I know that there are able to identify multiple parentalship.

If you have the DNA of both parents you may also identify, if the "claimed" offspring is really the offspring of this pair.

Having only one DNA source (mother, father or offspring) is much more difficult unless you are aiming only to the maternal line.

Hello Daniel,

If you want to look at parentage using molecular markers there are two main methods: 1) microsatelites or 2) next-generation sequencing (NGS). 

Microsatelites are a common method that have been around for a while. The cons are in optimization and develop of new microsatelites and the difficulty of cross-amplifying primers from distant species. Below is an example from a lab-mate of mine who works on snakes using microsatelites to determine parentage.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268516936_Bateman-Trivers_in_the_21st_Century_Sexual_selection_in_a_North_American_pitviper

There are also several other examples of studies like this for reptiles including lizards.

If you are working with Varanus there are some microsatelites already developed which is really helpful, see link below.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.02986.x/abstract;jsessionid=78073827D2D17524064A149A355E34CF.f03t04?userIsAuthenticated=false&deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=

NGS is a little bit newer and has typically been more expensive but costs have really started to get comparable now. The lab I am in has made the switch to a NGS method called ddRAD and one student is using this to examine parentage in a snake species that does not have microsatelites developed already.

I hope this answers your question, or maybe just adds new ones, but hopefully this was helpful.

Best Regards

Article Bateman-Trivers in the 21st Century: Sexual selection in a N...

Hi Dan,  

I believe Max has adequately addressed your inquiry. Nice to see he cites Levine et al. (2015) of which I am an author. Ha! Brenna did a great job in that study.  

Ask Andre Koch and Wolfgang Boehme, they have experience directly with Varanids

Thanks very much for the answers. The chelonian methodology requires sacrificing a viable egg so that wouldn't be suitable. Microsatellites seem the best way to go, but I can't find any records of people extracting DNA from squamate egg shells. Please advise if I'm missing something!

Hello Daniel,

I have never extracted DNA from eggshells, but here is a paper that may help.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225177553_Using_eggshell_membranes_as_a_DNA_source_for_population_genetic_research

Best Regards.

Article Using eggshell membranes as a DNA source for population gene...

Here is a paper with some considerations of different analytical approaches: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01928.x/full

Although keep in mind that you are not likely to attain unambiguous matches with practical numbers of loci.