title: HK/LK polymorphism and its genetic determination in Speke's gazelle.
abstract: Concentrations of potassium (K) and sodium (Na) were determined in the erythrocytes of 28 members of an interbreeding herd of Speke's gazelle. The distribution of K concentrations and Na/K concentration ratios suggested the presence of the high-K/low-K (HK/LK) polymorphism known in erythrocytes of domestic bovids. The pedigree of the herd of gazelles is known completely, permitting examination of the inheritance of HK/LK polymorphism by overlaying the distribution of phenotypes on the pedigree. Statistical analyses clearly indicate a strong genetic component in the phenotypic variability that is entirely consistent with a single autosomal locus, two-allele mode of inheritance, with the LK allele being dominant. This is the first demonstration of HK/LK polymorphism in a wild bovid species. The evidence indicates that HK/LK polymorphism is of considerable evolutionary age, is of monophyletic origin, and is maintained by selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Syracuse University, NY 13244.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dunham
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Templeton
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium