title: Distribution of mouse mammary tumor virus-related sequences does not correlate with the taxonomic position of their hosts.
abstract: Sequences (MRS) distantly related to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) were found in genomes of a wide range of mammalian species using blot hybridization. The number of MRS copies and the degree of their homology with the hybridization probe varied and did not correlate with the taxonomic position of the species. Nevertheless, within a genus the set of MRS was species specific and reflected the taxonomic relation between the species. MRS were also found in avian genomes and the degree of their homology did not correlate with the taxonomic position of the species either. The origin and distribution of MRS is discussed on the basis of the authors' and published data.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Cancer Research Center, USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Golovkina
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tikhonenko
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Vassetzky
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Sheftel
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gudkov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral