Characterization of the first growth hormone gene sequence for a passerine bird--the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca).
While the growth hormone (GH) gene has been characterized in a broad range of vertebrates, surprisingly little is known about this gene in birds. In order to extend knowledge of the GH gene in avian species and non-domestic species, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) GH gene has been sequenced in this study. The overall average pairwise sequence divergence level was 0.08 among all available avian sequences and 0.27 among other taxa. However, the overall genetic organization of the gene is quite conserved. The similarity of the GH gene sequence of pied flycatchers with those of chicken and duck suggests that the rapid bursts of molecular evolution observed in mammalian and fish GH have not occurred during the divergence of passerine and non-passerine birds.
Buggiotti
Laura
L
Division of Genetics and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland. laura.buggiotti@utu.fi
Hellström
Micaela A
MA
Primmer
Craig R
CR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D040461:Gene Components; D014644:Genetic Variation; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D020308:Songbirds / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D013006:Growth Hormone