Evaluating evolutionary divergence with microsatellites

A. A. Paszek, G. H. Flickinger, L. Fontanesi, C. W. Beattie, G. A. Rohrer, L. Alexander, L. B. Schook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We report the use of microsatellites (MS) to track the recent evolution of swine. Allelic frequencies for nine MS loci linked on swine chromosome 6 (SSC6) representing four western and one Chinese swine breeds were used to estimate genetic distances and times of breed divergence. A phylogenetic tree was constructed which partitioned into western and Meishan breed branches. Yorkshire and Hampshire breeds exhibited the most recent divergence with a calculated distance of 391 years. The oldest divergence, of 2,227 years, was between Meishan and Hampshire swine. Estimates of breed divergence are consistent with historical records. Additional analysis suggests that polymorphic MS linked on a single chromosome are sufficient to determine evolutionary relationships within a single species.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-126
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Molecular Evolution
Volume46
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Breed divergence
  • Chromosome 6 microsatellites
  • Genetic distance
  • Genetic variance
  • Swine breeds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)

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