Genomic DNAs (gDNAs) were isolated from the hard clam ( , Roding, 1798) populations of Gunsan located in the Yellow Sea of the Korean peninsula. Genetic distances among different individuals of the LSCP (light shell color population) population of the hard clam (lane 1-11), GSCP (grey shell color population) population of the hard clam (lane 12-22) and DSCP (dark shell color population) population of the hard clam (lane 23-33), respectively, were generated using Systat version 10 according to the bandsharing values and similarity matrix. The dendrogram, generated by seven reliable oligonucleotides primers, indicates 3 genetic clusters. LSCP population could be evidently discriminated with the other two populations among three populations. The longest genetic distance (0.801) was found to exist between individuals in the two populations, between individuals' no. 33 of the DSCP population and no. 06 of the LSCP population. The higher fragment sizes (>2,000 bp) are much more observed in the GSCP population. Three hard clam populations can be clearly distinguished, especially, by their morphological characters and PCR-based approach.

• Yoon Jong-Man
• Park Kyung-Il
• Choi Sang-Hoon