Mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence diversity in the Korean hare, Lepus coreanus Thomas (Mammalia, Lagomorpha)

Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the Korean hare (Lepus coreanus) were analyzed to determine the degree of genetic diversity. Nine haPlotyes were observed, and the maximum Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among them was 2.8%, indicating that genetic diversity of L. coreanus is moderate. In order to clarify the Korean hare's taxonomic status and relationship with the Manchurian hare (L. mandshuricus) and the Chinese hare (L. sinensis), these nine haplotypes of the Korean hare were compared with 13 haplotypes from five other species of eastern Asian Lepus including L. mandshwicus and L. sinensis. The Korean hare was distinct in its cytochrome b gene, and it is confirmed that L. coreanus is a valid species, as noted by Jones and Johnson (1965, Univ. Kansas Publ. (Mus. Nat. Hist.) 16:357). Further analyses of mtDNA cytochrome b gene with additional specimens of L. coreanus from North Korea and other species of Lepus from eastern Asia are needed to clarify the taxonomic status of the divergent mtDNA clades of L. mandshuricus and L. sinensis.

Genetic diversity and conservation of endangered animal species

The loss of biodiversity resulting from extinctions is receiving increasing attention. Over several thousands of animal species have been evaluated and recognized as endangered species. Inbreeding depression has been demonstrated in many wild animal speci

The origin and genetic diversity of Chinese native chicken breeds

The first 539 bases of mitochondrial DNA D-loop region of six Chinese native chicken breeds (Gallus gallus domesticus) were sequenced and compared to those of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), the gray junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), the green junglefow

Genetic relationship of Chinese ethnic populations revealed by mtDNA sequence diversity

The origin and demographic history of the ethnic populations of China have not been clearly resolved. In this study, we examined the hypervariable segment I sequences (HVSI) of the mitochondrial DNA control region in 372 individuals from nine Chinese popu

Genetic diversity and population history of golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), namely the snub-nosed monkey, is a well-known endangered primate, which distributes only in the central part of mainland China. As an effort to understand the current genetic status as well as population history of this species, we collected a sample of 32 individuals from four different regions, which cover the major habitat of this species. Forty-four allozyme loci were surveyed in our study by allozyme electrophoresis, none of which was found to be polymorphic. The void of polymorphism compared with that of other nonhuman primates is surprising particularly considering that the current population size is many times larger than that of some other endangered species. Since many independent loci are surveyed in this Study, the most plausible explanation for our observation is that the population has experienced a recent bottleneck. We used a coalescent approach to explore various scenarios of population bottleneck and concluded that the most recent bottleneck could have happened within the last 15,000 years. Moreover, the proposed simulation approach could be useful to researchers who need to analyze the non- or low-polymorphism data.

Genetic diversity and relationship of Yunnan native cattle breeds and introduced beef cattle breeds

In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to estimate genetic diversity and relationship in 134 samples belonging to two native cattle breeds from the Yunnan province of China (DeHong cattle and DiQing cattle) and four intro

Mitochondrial diversity and phylogeographic structure of Chinese domestic goats

China has numerous native domestic goat breeds, but so far there has been no extensive study on genetic diversity, population demographic history, and origin of Chinese goats. Here, we examined the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of Chinese domestic goats by determining a 481-bp fragment of the first hypervariable region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region from 368 individuals representing 18 indigenous breeds. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that there were four mtDNA lineages (A-D) identified in Chinese goats, in which lineage A was predominant, lineage B was moderate, and lineages C and D were at low frequency. These results further support the multiple maternal origins of domestic goats. The pattern of genetic variation in goat mtDNA sequences indicated that the two larger lineages A and B had undergone population expansion events. In a combined analysis of previously reported sequences and our sequences belonging to lineage B, we detected two subclades, in which one was unique to eastern Asia and another was shared between eastern and southern Asia. A larger genetic variation in eastern Asia than southern Asia and the pattern of phylogeographic variation in lineage B suggest that at least one subclade of lineage B originated from eastern Asia. There was no significant geographical structuring in Chinese goat populations, which suggested that there existed strong gene flow among goat populations caused by extensive transportation of goats in history. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Species diversity of the subgenus Amiota (s. str.) Loew, 1862 (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in southern China

A total of 38 Amiota (s. str.) species (about 40% of the world total) are reported from southern China, with descriptions of 23 new species, i.e. sinuata species-group: aculeata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., subsinuata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., xishuangbanna Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov.; basdeni species-group: brevipartita Chen and Gao, sp. nov., curvispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov., lipingae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., huae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., longispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov.; taurusata species-group: asymmetrica Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; femorata Chen and Takamori, sp. nov., yixiangensis Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; alboguttata species-group: ailaoshanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., arcuata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., dehiscentia Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., jizushanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., latitabula Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., luguhuensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., nozawai Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., paraspinata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., shangrila Chen and Watabe, sp. nov.; and ungrouped: fuscicata Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wangi Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wuyishanensis Chen and Zhang, sp. nov. A key to all species from southern China is provided. The Amiota fauna of southern China at the species-group level is compared with that of six geographic regions. The subgenus Amiota is assumed to have originated and produced many species-groups in the Oriental region of East Asia, and then the basdeni, alboguttata and rufescens species-groups might have spread to Europe and North-Central America throughout the Palearctic region of East Asia and both the apodemata, sinuata and nagatai species-groups to tropical regions of South-East Asia.

Origin, genetic diversity, and population structure of Chinese domestic sheep

To characterize the origin, genetic diversity, and phylogeographic structure of Chinese domestic sheep, we here analyzed a 531-bp fragment of mtDNA control region of 449 Chinese autochthonous sheep from 19 breeds/populations from 13 geographic regions, to

Genetic diversity of Tricholoma matsutake in Yunnan Province

To investigate the genetic diversity of Tricholoma matsutake, we studied ITS and IGS1 sequences and PCR polymorphism of a retrotransposon in 56 fruit bodies collected from 13 counties of 9 regions in Yunnan Province. We found one and three haplotypes base

Genetic diversity of the black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) from the Wuliang Mountains of Yunnan, China: preliminary results.

The authors thank Peng Shi, Scott Groom, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments. This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2007CB411600), National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Bureau of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (to Y.-P.Z.).

Genetic diversity and origin of Chinese cattle revealed by mtDNA D-loop sequence variation

To determine the origin and genetic diversity of Chinese cattle, we analyzed the complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of 84 cattle from 14 breeds/populations from southwest and west China, together with the available cattle sequences in GenBank. Our results sh

Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity and origin of Chinese domestic yak

In order to clarify the origin and genetic diversity of yak in China, we analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (similar to 891 bp) in 52 individuals from four domestic yak (Poephagus grunniens) breeds, as well as from a hybrid betwee