[Use of RAPD-PCR-analysis of cellular DNA for the evaluation of genetic polymorphism and subspecies diagnostics of the Far Eastern leopard Panthera pardus orientalis].
Genetic polymorphism in the Far-Eastern leopard subspecies Panthera pardus orientalis was examined by RAPD-PCR analysis of total cellular DNA. Primers diagnostic for the leopard subspecies were detected. These primers can be used for differentiating wild-living animals from those kept in captivity and distinguishing different breeding lines. Genetic diversity was shown to be lower in animals from the zoo (D = 0.058) and higher in a natural population (D = 0.137). Two lines of the Persian subspecies were genetically closest (D = 0.042), and the Persian and Far-Eastern subspecies represented by wild animals, genetically most remote (D = 0.274). The level of genetic divergence of the Persian subspecies and Far-Eastern subspecies (zoo animals) was lower (D = 0.108) than between representatives of the Persian subspecies from the captive and natural population (D = 0.220). On the basis of analysis of relatedness, performed using NTSYS and PHYLIP software packages, the possibility cannot be excluded that some P. p. orientalis animals from the zoo have a hybrid origin and may be assigned to another Far-Eastern subspecies.
Chelomina
G N
GN
Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia.
Spiridonova
L N
LN
Kozyrenko
M M
MM
Artiukova
E V
EV
Chelomin
Iu V
IuV
Zhuravlev
Iu N
IuN
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D002335:Carnivora / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D013045:Species Specificity
D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA