title: Limited MHC polymorphism in whales.
abstract: Little is known about disease and genetic variation in aquatic mammalian species such as whales. In this paper human HLA class I and class II probes were used to study major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes from two species of whale: Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Sei (B. borealis). Stronger signals were obtained on whale than on equivalent concentrations of mouse DNA. Evidence was obtained for several DRB-related genes, a DNA genes, one DQA gene, and multiple class I genes in whales. Interestingly, the whale genes, from the small panel studied, were less polymorphic than those of humans or mice. The aquatic environment of this mammalian species may be a unique factor in shaping its immune response through the MHC.
authors.affiliation: Human Immunogenetics Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trowsdale
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002591:Cetacea / Q000235:genetics*; D015343:DNA Probes, HLA; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013045:Species Specificity; D014907:Whales / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015343:DNA Probes, HLA