Protein polymorphism and genetic divergence in slow loris (Genus nycticebus)

In this study, protein electrophoresis was assayed to detect genetic variation in Genus Nycticebus. A total of 29 samples (2 N. coucang and 27 N. pygmaeus) were analyzed for 42 genetic loci. In the 27 samples of N. pygmaeus, 4 loci were observed to be polymorphic. Therefore, the estimated P value (proportion of polymorphic loci) is 0.095, the A value (average number of alleles each locus) is 1.045, and the H value (mean individual heterozygosity) is 0.040. After comparing the H of N. pygmaeus with those of other primates reported, we found that the protein variation in N. pygmaeus is slightly lower than the average level. Additionally, we also observed obvious allele difference between N. pygmaeus and N. coucang. There are no shared alleles between these two species in eight loci. The NEI's genetic distance between them was calculated as 0.2541, which falls in the spectrum of genetic difference between species in primates.

Genetic diversity and population history of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence variations

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is one of the flagship species in worldwide conservation and is of special interest in evolutionary studies due to its taxonomic uniqueness. We sequenced a 236-bp fragment of the mitochondrial D-loop region in a sample of 5

Genetic evidence supports demic diffusion of Han culture

The spread of culture and language in human populations is explained by two alternative models: the demic diffusion model, which involves mass movement of people; and the cultural diffusion model, which refers to cultural impact between populations and in

Analyses of genetic structure of Tibeto-Burman populations reveals sex-biased admixture in southern Tibeto-Burmans

An unequal contribution of male and female lineages from parental populations to admixed ones is not uncommon in the American continents, as a consequence of directional gene flow from European men into African and Hispanic Americans in the past several c

Genetic evidence of a strong functional constraint of neurotrypsin during primate evolution

Neurotrypsin is one of the extra-cellular serine proteases that are predominantly expressed in the brain and involved in neuronal development and function. Mutations in humans are associated with autosomal recessive non-syndromic mental retardation (MR). We studied the molecular evolution of neurotrypsin by sequencing the coding region of neurotrypsin in 11 representative non-human primate species covering great apes, lesser apes, Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. Our results demonstrated a strong functional constraint of neurotrypsin that was caused by strong purifying selection during primate evolution, an implication of an essential functional role of neurotrypsin in primate cognition. Further analysis indicated that the purifying selection was in fact acting on the SRCR domains of neurotrypsin, which mediate the binding activity of neurotrypsin to cell surface or extracellular proteins. In addition, by comparing primates with three other mammalian orders, we demonstrated that the absence of the first copy of the SRCR domain (exon 2 and 3) in mouse and rat was due to the deletion of this segment in the murine lineage. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Rapid evolution, genetic variations, and functional association of the human spermatogenesis-related gene NYD-SP12

NYD-SP12 is a recently identified spermatogenesis-related gene with a pivotal role in human testis development. In this study, we analyzed between-species divergence and within-species variation of NYD-SP12 in seven representative primate species, four wo

Paternal genetic affinity between western Austronesians and Daic populations

Background: Austronesian is a linguistic family spread in most areas of the Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Based on their linguistic similarity, this linguistic family included Malayo-Polynesians and Taiwan aborigines. The lingui

Winter Temperature and UV Are Tightly Linked to Genetic Changes in the p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway in Eastern Asia

The tumor suppressor p53 is a master sensor of stress. Two human-specific polymorphisms, p53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP309, influence the activities of p53. There is a tight association between cold winter temperature and p53 Arg72 and between low UV intensity

Assessment of cattle genetic introgression into domestic yak populations using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

Hybridization between yak Poephagus grunniens and taurine Bos taurus or indicine B. indicus cattle has been widely practiced throughout the yak geographical range, and gene flow is expected to have occurred between these species. To assess the impact of cattle admixture on domestic yak, we examined 1076 domestic yak from 29 populations collected in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Russia using mitochondrial DNA and 17 autosomal microsatellite loci. A cattle diagnostic marker-based analysis reveals cattle-specific mtDNA and/or autosomal microsatellite allele introgression in 127 yak individuals from 22 populations. The mean level of cattle admixture across the populations, calculated using allelic information at 17 autosomal microsatellite loci, remains relatively low (mY(cattle) = 2.66 +/- 0.53% and Q(cattle) = 0.69 +/- 2.58%), although it varies a lot across populations as well as among individuals within population. Although the level of cattle admixture shows a clear geographical structure, with higher levels of admixture in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian and Russian regions, and lower levels in the Himalayan and Pamir Plateau region, our results indicate that the level of cattle admixture is not significantly correlated with the altitude across geographical regions as well as within geographical region. Although yak-cattle hybridization is primarily driven to produce F-1 hybrids, our results show that the subsequent gene flow between yak and cattle took place and has affected contemporary genetic make-up of domestic yak. To protect yak genetic integrity, hybridization between yak and cattle should be tightly controlled.

Genetic diversity of Yunnan local pig breeds inferred from blood protein electrophoresis

Protein electrophoresis was used to examine the blood protein polymorphism in Yunnan local pig breeds, i.e., the Saba pig, Dahe pig, and Diannan small-ear pig breeds, Of 38 genetic loci surveyed 9 were found to be polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic loci (P) varies from 0.1875 to 0.2121, and the mean individual heterozygosity (H) varies front 0.0712 to 0.1027 in three pig breeds. The results indicate that blood protein polymorphism in Yunnan pig breeds is high. Yunnan local pig breeds have a wealth of genetic diversity at the level of blood proteins.

Genetic studies of human diversity in East Asia

East Asia is one of the most important regions for studying evolution and genetic diversity of human populations. Recognizing the relevance of characterizing the genetic diversity and structure of East Asian populations for understanding their genetic his

Mitochondrial DNA D2loop Variation and Genetic Background of Brahman Cattle

对10 头原种婆罗门牛mtDNA D2loop 全序列912 bp 测序, 婆罗门牛遗传多样性丰富, 检测到的9 种单 倍型兼有瘤牛( B . indicus) 与普通牛( B . taurus) 的遗传背景, 核苷酸变异率为6125 % , 单倍型多态度为01978 ± 01054 , 核苷酸多态度为01014 30 ±01008 68。所有单倍型聚为明显的两大分支, 婆罗门牛的大部分单倍型为普通 牛单倍型类群, 并占绝对优势(90 %) , 仅Brah26 与亚洲瘤牛聚在一起, 属于亚洲瘤牛线粒体单倍型, 表明婆罗门 牛的确是集亚洲瘤牛、欧洲普通牛等优良特性于一身(易产犊、产肉性能好、耐热与体表寄生虫等) 的瘤牛品种之 一。育种学家引种瘤牛的目的是改善当地牛的生产力与适应性, 现代普通牛表现出明显又普遍的瘤牛渐渗现象。 对现代的瘤牛品种而言, 除亚洲瘤牛品种外, 普通牛对其他瘤牛品种育成的贡献同样高。支持瘤牛( B . indicus ) 为独立驯化、起源于印度次大陆的假说。

GENETIC VARIATION AMONG SEA BASS POPULATIONS

采用水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术对花鲈群体的遗传结构进行了研究,共检测了中国沿海花鲈146 尾和40 尾日本 东京湾花鲈。其群体的多态位点比例为012667 —015333 ,观测杂合度和预期杂合度分别为010211 —010515 和 010398 —010797。中日花鲈在LDH 3 , GPI21 3 , GPI22 3 基因位点上的等位基因接近完全置换。中国花鲈各群体之 间的根井遗传距离为010004 —010011 ,平均值约为010080 ;而中日花鲈间的根井遗传距离为011870 —011954 ,平均值 为011926。以上结果表明中国花鲈群体间遗传变异很小,中日花鲈间遗传变异远大于中国花鲈群体间的遗传距 离。

GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE CHINESE PANGOLIN (MANIS-PENTADACTYLA) - INFERRED FROM RESTRICTION ENZYME ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNAS

Two different forms of Chinese pangolins can be recognized according to the color of their scales, i.e., brown and dusky. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) purified from the livers of seven dusky and six brown Chinese pangolins from the same locality, using cleavage patterns from 19 restriction enzymes. From the 19 6-bp recognition enzymes used, 51-56 sites were observed. By combining the cleavage patterns for each enzyme, the 13 samples were classified into four restriction types: two in dusky and two in brown Chinese pangolins. The estimated number of nucleotide substitutions per site in dusky and brown types is 0.002, and that between dusky and brown types is 0.012. Divergence between brown and dusky forms began 0.6 Myr ago, provided the mean rate of sequence divergence is 0.02 per Myr in mtDNA. Our results suggest that there is considerable divergence in Chinese pangolins, and brown and dusky Chinese pangolins may be quite different forms or, at least, belong to different maternal groups.