Maintenance of genetic variability in a specific pathogen-free breeding colony.
We used 18 genetic loci including blood groups, isozymes, and a serum protein to evaluate our efforts to preserve genetic variability in a specific pathogen-free (SPF) colony of rhesus monkeys. We compared genetic variability in the SPF population to the virally contaminated, non-SPF population from which it was derived. There was no change in the average gene diversity between the SPF and non-SPF populations. However, gene diversity at blood group Q locus increased significantly in the SPF population, while blood group M locus showed an insignificant trend toward decreased gene diversity. Allele frequencies changed significantly at blood group Q locus, although no alleles were lost from the population. We hypothesized that this change was due to extensive overreproduction by a small number of founder males that possessed the initially rare allele, Q1. There was no evidence that this change was associated with genes involved in viral infection.
Ely
J J
JJ
Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212.
Manis
G S
GS
Keeling
M E
ME
Stone
W H
WH
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D001947:Breeding; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007178:Inbreeding; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D001789:Blood Group Antigens