中国傣族、景颇族人群中与艾滋病相关的CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3′A等位基因多态性分布

为了调查HIV-1感染相关的等位基因CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3′A在我国云南省德宏州傣族景颇族人群中的频率和多态性分布,此课题以101例傣族和113例景颇族人群为研究对象,应用PCR、PCR-RFLP(聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性)分析方法进行检测,计算突变基因频率;并对其群体分布、性别分布进行统计学分析。结果表明,中国傣族景颇族人群中未发现CCR5△32等位基因突变;傣族CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3′A基因突变频率分别为0.2130和0.2030,景颇族CCR2b-64I和SDF1-3′A基因突变频率分别为0.1637和0.1770;与中国汉族人群相比较,傣族和景颇族中SDF1-3′A突变频率较低（P值分别为0.0322和0.0021）;两个民族的CCR2b-64I和SDF1-3′A等位基因群体分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,在性别之间分布无显著差异。中国傣族景颇族人群的CCR2b-64I等位基因的突变频率与汉族人相似,SDF1-3′A等位基因的突变频率比汉族人低,此两种突变基因在艾滋病发病过程中的影响值得进一步研究。由于未发现CCR5△32基因突变,中国傣族景颇族人群对HIV-1感染可能有较大的遗传易感性。 Abstract:The purpose of the work is to investigate the frequencies and polymorphisms of HIV-1 resistant CCR5delta32,CCR2b-64I,SDF1-3′A alleles in Chinese Dai and Chingpaw populations.Whole blood samples from 101 Dai subjects and 113 Chingpaw were collected randomly and their genomic DNA were extracted with QIAgen Blood Kits.Allelic frequencies were identified by PCR-RFLP analysis.Allelic polymorphisms in Dai population or Chingpaw population and both sexes in the samples were analyzed by χ2 test.The frequencies of CCR5delta32,CCR2b-64I,SDF1-3′A alleles in Dai population were 0.0000,0.2130,0.2030,respectively;The frequencies of CCR5delta32,CCR2b-64I,SDF1-3′A alleles in Chingpaw population were 0.000,0.1637,0.1770,respectively.Distributions of the CCR2b-64I,SDF1-3′A alleles among the both populations were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.No statistical difference was found in the allelic frequencies of both CCR2b-64I and SDF1-3′A between male and female individuals.The frequencies of CCR5delta32,CCR2b-64I alleles in Chinese Dai and Chingpaw populations are similar to that in Chinese Han population,while the frequency of SDF1-3′A allele in Chinese Dai and Chingpaw populations are lower in contrast to that in Chinese Han population.The genotyping and polymorphism of CCR5delta32,CCR2b-64I,SDF1-3′A alleles in Chinese Dai and Chingpaw populations of Yunnan Province are the first time studied in China.The significance of the three mutant alleles conferring genetic resistance to HIV-1 and AIDS progression remains to be clarified.     

中国傣族、景颇族人群中与艾滋病相关的CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A等位基因多态性分布

为了调查HIV-1感染相关的等位基因CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A在我国云南省德宏州傣族景颇族人群中的频率和多态性分布,此课题以101例傣族和113例景颇族人群为研究对象,应用PCR、PCR-RFLP(聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性)分析方法进行检测,计算突变基因频率;并对其群体分布、性别分布进行统计学分析.结果表明,中国傣族景颇族人群中未发现CCR5△32等位基因突变;傣族CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A基因突变频率分别为0.2130和0.2030,景颇族CCR2b-64I和SDF1-3'A基因突变频率分别为0.1637和0.1770;与中国汉族人群相比较,傣族和景颇族中SDF1-3'A突变频率较低(P值分别为0.0322和0.0021);两个民族的CCR2b-64I和SDF1-3'A等位基因群体分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,在性别之间分布无显著差异.中国傣族景颇族人群的CCR2b-64I等位基因的突变频率与汉族人相似,SDF1-3'A等位基因的突变频率比汉族人低,此两种突变基因在艾滋病发病过程中的影响值得进一步研究.由于未发现CCR5△32基因突变,中国傣族景颇族人群对HIV-1感染可能有较大的遗传易感性.     

性病艾滋病感染者HIV-1相关基因CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A多态性分布的研究

研究HIV-1相关等位基因CCR5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A在性病艾滋病感染人群中的突变频率和多态性分布的特点,为我国艾滋病的预防和未来的基因治疗提供初步依据.收集198例汉族性病艾滋病感染者的血液标本,提取基因组DNA,经PCR检测,并用统计学方法分析.198例性病艾滋病人群CCR.5△32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A的突变频率分别为0.25%、16.16%、25.00%,与中国普通汉族人的结果一致.CCR5△32的突变频率较低,而CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3'A的突变频率较高,提示本地性病艾滋病汉族人群对性传播的HIV-1(R-5)毒株有较大的易感性.     

Provincial distribution of three HIV-1 resistant polymorphisms (CCR5-Δ32, CCR2-64I, and SDF1-3'''' A) in China

CCR5-Δ2, CCR2-641, mutants in two chemokine receptors and SDF1-3' A, mutant in a ligand gene, can delay AIDS pathogenesis. The distribution of the three polymorphic loci was studied in 1 046 DNA samples from 26 provinces (cities) in China. No CCR5-Δ32 was observed. CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A had reverse distribution cline from south to north in China, with average frequency of 20.8% and 24.8% respectively. Relative hazard was evaluated. Important information to the epidemiology of AIDS and the origin and spread of these polymorphic loci in Chinese was provided.     

性病艾滋病感染者HIV-1相关基因CCR5Δ32、CCR2b-64I、SDF1-3＇A多态性分布的研究

研究HIV-1相关等位基因CCR5Δ32、CCR26—64I、SDFl-3'A在性病艾滋病感染人群中的突变频率和多态性分布的特点,为我国艾滋病的预防和未来的基因治疗提供初步依据。收集198例汉族性病艾滋病感染的血液标本,提取基因组DNA,经PCR检测,并用统计学方法分析。198例性病艾滋病人群CCR5Δ32、CCR2b-64I、SDFl-3’A的突变频率分别为0．25％、16．16％、25．00％,与中国普通汉族人的结果一致。CCR5Δ32的突变频率较低,而CCR2b-64I、SDFl-3'4的突变频率较高,提示本地性病艾滋病汉族人群对性传播的HIV—1(R-5)毒株有较大的易感性。     

The analysis of genetic diversity and differentiation of six Chinese cattle populations using microsatellite markers

A total of 321 individuals from six cattle populations of four species in a bovine subfamily in China were studied using 12 pairs of microsatellite markers. The genetic diversities within and between populations were calculated. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by （δμ）^2 and DA distances, and the divergence times between populations were estimated by （δμ）^2. Altogether, 144 microsatellite alleles were detected including 24 private alleles and nine shared alleles. Chinese Holstein had the largest number of private alleles （10）, whereas Bohai black and Buffalo had the smallest number of private alleles （2）. Chinese Holstein showed the highest genetic variability. Its observed number of alleles （Na）, mean effective number of alleles （MNA）, and mean heterozygosity （He） were 7.7500, 4.9722, and 0.7719, respectively, whereas, the Buffalo and Yak showed low genetic variability. In the phylogenetic trees, Luxi and Holstein grouped first, followed by Bohai and Minnan. Yak branched next and buffalo emerged as the most divergent population from other cattle populations. Luxi and Bohai were estimated to have diverged 0.039-0.105 million years ago （MYA）, however, buffalo and Holstein diverged 0.501-1.337 MYA. The divergence time of Yak versus Minnan, Holstein and buffalo was 0.136-0.363, 0.273-0.729, and 0.326-0.600 MYA, respectively.     

Comparing the frequencies of restriction fragment length polymorphisms for dystrophin gene in Chinese with those from Japanese and Caucasian populations

The restriction fragment length polymorphisms distribution and frequency of dystrophin gene in Chinese were studied by using 14 subclones of the entire 14kb cDNA for the dystrophin as hybridization probes. Allelic fragments were detected in hybridization patterns of PvuⅡ/la, Taq Ⅰ/2b-3, Taq Ⅰ/5b-7, and Xba Ⅰ/10. Among them, the allelic fragments (26kb and 3.8kb) in PvuⅡ/2b-3 pattern and the allelic fragments (10.0kb and 8.4kb) in Taq Ⅰ/5b-7 patterns had never been reported previously. Compared with the data from Caucasians and Japanese, it indicated that there was a significant difference (P<0.01) of the allelic fragment frequency in Taq Ⅰ/2b-3 and Xba Ⅰ/10 patterns between Chinese and Caucasians. The frequencies of allelic fragments A2 (5.6kb) in Taq Ⅰ/8 and A2 (10.Tkb) in EcoR Ⅴ/9 were high in Caucasians, yet had not been detected in Chinese, the differences were also highly significant. But in Chinese and Caucasians, the B1B2 allelic frequencies in Taq Ⅰ/5b-7 are the same. As to the frequency of the allelic fragments A1A2 and B1B2 in Pvu Ⅱ/la, there was no significant difference between Chinese and Japanese.     

Principal component analysis of gene frequencies of Chinese populations

Principal components (PCs) were calculated based on gene frequencies of 130 alleles at 38 loci in Chinese populations, and geographic PC maps were constructed. The first PC map of the Han shows the genetic difference between Southern and Northern Mongoloids, while the second PC indicates the gene flow between Caucasoid and Mongoloids. The first PC map of the Chinese ethnic minorities is similar to that of the second PC map of the Han, while their second PC map is similar to the first PC map of the Han. When calculating PC with the gene frequency data from both the Han and ethnic minorities, the first and second PC maps most resemble those of the ethnic minorities alone. The third and fourth PC maps of Chinese populations may reflect historical events that allowed the expansion of the populations in the highly civilized regions. A clear-cut boundary between Southern and Northern Mongoloids in the synthetic map of the Chinese populations was observed in the zone of the Yangtze River. We suggest that the a     

中国南方汉族群体MPSI型Kpn I酶切位点的遗传多态性

为研究中国汉族群体IDUA 基因Kpn I 酶切位点的遗传多态性以及该位点等位基因片段传递的规律, 采用PCR-RFLP技术, 对162例无血缘关系的健康中国汉人的324条 染色体进行检测,另又对5个家系16位成员进行同样的检测,然后用χ2检验进行统计学处理。结果表明,等位基因A1 频率为0.17,等位基因A2 频率为0.83,杂合率为29%;A1 、A2 的传递规律与理论上预计的完全符合。认为中国汉族群体IDUA 基因 Kpn I 酶切位点也具有遗传多态性, 并且与国外报道的无显著性差异;A1、A2 在世代中的传递完全符合孟德尔遗传规律。 Abstract:To investigate the genetic polymorphism of the Kpn I site in the α-L-iduronidase(IDUA) gene from a Han population in southern China and to study the mode of transmission of alleles, PCR-RFLP was used to analyze 324 chromosomes from 162 Chinese unrelated healthy Han individuals, and the analysis of the genotypes of 16 members in five families. To compare the frequencies and heterzygosity between Chinese Han population and Caucasians in Western by using χ2test. The frequency of allele 1 (450bp) was 0.17,allele 2 (390 plus 60 bp) 0.83, the heterozygosity was 29%.The genotypes of each member of all families detected was completely agreement with the theorical assessment. The locus of Kpn I in the IDUAgene from Han population has polymorphism. There is no significant difference between Chinese Han population and Caucasians in Western countries. The transmission of alleles was agreement with the Mendelian genetic law.     

Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA HVS-I and HVS-Ⅱ of Chinese Tu ethnic minority group

We analyzed the two hypervariable segments HVS-Ⅰ and HVS-Ⅱ of 108 Chinese Tu ethnic minority group samples for forensic and population genetics purposes.Comparing with Anderson sequence,79 polymorphic loci in HVS-Ⅰ and 40 in HVS-Ⅱ were found in Chi-nese Tu ethnic minority group mtDNA sequences,and 90 and 64 haplotypes were then defined.Haplotype diversity and the mean pair-wise differences were 0.9903±0.0013 and 5.7785 in HVS-Ⅰ,and 0.9777±0.0013 and 3.5819 in HVS-Ⅱ,respectively.By analyzing the hypervariable domain from nucleotide 1,6180 to 1,6193 in HVS-Ⅰ,we defined some new types of sequence variations.We also compared the relationship between Tu population and other populations using mtDNA HVS-Ⅰ sequences.According to Rst genetic distances,the phylogenetic tree showed that the Tu population,the Xi'an Han population,the Chinese Korean,and the Mongol ethnic group were in a clade.This indicated a close genetic relationship between them.There were far relations between the Tu population and other Chinese southern Han populations,Siberian,European,African,and other foreign populations.The results suggest that Tu population has a multi-origin and has also merged with other local populations.     

Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA HVS-I and HVS-Ⅱ of Chinese Tu ethnic minority group

We analyzed the two hypervariable segments HVS-Ⅰ and HVS-Ⅱ of 108 Chinese Tu ethnic minority group samples for forensic and population genetics purposes.Comparing with Anderson sequence,79 polymorphic loci in HVS-Ⅰ and 40 in HVS-Ⅱ were found in Chi-nese Tu ethnic minority group mtDNA sequences,and 90 and 64 haplotypes were then defined.Haplotype diversity and the mean pair-wise differences were 0.9903:±0.0013 and 5.7785 in HVS-Ⅰ,and 0.9777±0.0013 and 3.5819 in HVS-Ⅱ,respectively.By analyzing the hypervariable domain from nucleotide 1,6180 to 1,6193 in HVS-Ⅰ,we defined some new types of sequence variations.We also compared the relationship between Tu population and other populations using mtDNA HVS-Ⅰ sequences.According to Rst genetic distances,the phylogenetic tree showed that the Tu population,the Xi'an Han population,the Chinese Korean,and the Mongol ethnic group were in a clade.This indicated a close genetic relationship between them.There were far relations between the Tu population and other Chinese southern Han populations,Siberian,European,African,and other foreign populations.The results suggest that Tu population has a multi-origin and has also merged with other local populations.     

Genetic analysis of 15 STR loci in Chinese Han population from West China

Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat （STR） loci （D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSFIPO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, and FGA） were obtained from 7,636 unrelated individuals of Chinese Han population living in Qinghai and Chongqing, China. Totally 206 alleles were observed, with the corresponding allele frequencies ranging from 0.0001-0.4982. Chi-square test showed that all of the STR loci agreed with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We also compared our data with previously published population data of other ethnics or areas. The results are valuable for human identification and paternity testing in Chinese Han population.     

湖羊、同羊12个同工酶座位的检测

Gene frequencies of Hu sheep and Tong sheep were obtained with “Random sampling in typical colonies of a central area“.of the 12 loci tested in Hu shpee.11 loci were polymorphic.Reliability of the estimated frequencies of 27 alleles reached 0.95 except for Po^F,Tf^A,Tfd,Hb-β^A and CAF which had reliabilities of 0.5222,0.7478,0.5222,0.6212 and 0.899,respectively,Of the 12 loci tested in Tong sheep,11 loci were polymorphic.Reliability of the estimated frequency of 25 alleles reached 0.95 except for Tf^A,Tf^E and CAF which had reliabilities of 0.931,0.6922 and 0.7924,respectively.The average heterozygosity(H) and average homozygosity(J) was computed and the J of the two sheep colonies was 0.6619 and 0.6448,respectively.Consistent with our conclusions based on genetic data,previous research divided the native sheep populations of East and South Central Asia into three group:the “mongolian group“ “south-Asian group“and “European group“ .Consequently,the degree of genetic similarity between populations and known groups would seem to provide a reliable means of determining the genetic relationships between populations and may reflect the true genetic origin of Hu sheep and Tong sheep in China.     

Association of HLA classⅠand classⅡgenes with severe acute respiratory syndrome in the northern Chinese population

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a major epidemic at the beginning of the 21^st century. This highly infectious disease is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV), whose immune reaction is still not completely understood. This study described the genetic patterns of HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 loci in patients from Beijing who survived SARS, and examined whether an association between HLA genes and susceptibility/resistance to SARS exists. A total of 148 Chinese Han SARS survivors were recruited to donate convalescent plasma in 2003. HLA low-resolution genotyping was carried out using PCR-SSP. Allele frequencies were compared with published frequencies of HLA alleles from 11 755 unrelated northern Chinese Han bone marrow donors by Fisher''s exact test. In this cohort, 13, 25 and 13 alleles were observed at HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 loci respectively. Fisher''s exact tests revealed four alleles (A*26, DRB1*04, DRB1*09, and DRB1*16) that showed a nominal association significance with the SARS virus (P<0.05), yet none of these associations remained significant after correction. Our study suggests that HLA polymorphisms were unlikely to have contributed significantly to either the susceptibility or resistance to the SARS-Cov infection in patients who survived SARS in the Northern Chinese population, thus leaving an open question for future studies into a possible association HLA class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ genes with SARS in patients who were unable to survive the infection.     

Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Chinese mitten crab （Eriocheir sinensis）

Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) has higher commercial value as food source than any other species of Eriocheir in China.To evaluate the germplasm resources and characterize the genetic diversity and population structure of the crabs in different water systems,two stocks and two farming populations were assessed with 25 polymorphic microsallite loci available in public GenBank.Basic statistics showed that the average observed heterozygosity (Ho) amongst populations ranged from 0.5789 to 0.6824.However,a remarkable presence of inbreeding and heterozygote deficiencies were observed.To analyze population structure,pairwise FST coefficients explained only ～10.3% variability from the subdivision of mitten crab populations,the remaining variability stems from the subdivision within subpopulations.Although the four populations had slight differentiation,different allelic frequencies resulted in distinct population structures.Two stocks and one farming population were clustered together to the phylogenetic branch of Yangtze crab,with an approximate membership of 95%.Whereas,another fanning population was clustered singly to the phylogenetic branch of the Liaohe crab,with a membership of 97.1%.The tests for individual admixture showed that Yangtze crab had probably been contaminated with individuals from other water systems.Genetic relationships between populations also supported the conclusion that Yangtze crab and Liaohe crab had different gene pools in spite of the origins of the same species.     

Microsatellite analysis of variation among wild,domesticated,and genetically improved populations of blunt snout bream(Megalobrama amblycephala)

In the present study,the genetic diversity of one selected strain(Pujiang No.1),two domesticated populations(GA and HX)and four wild populations(LZ,YN,SS and JL)of blunt snout bream(Megalobrama amblycephala)was analyzed using 17microsatellite markers.The results showed that an average of 4.88-7.65 number of alleles(A);an average of 3.20-5.33 effective alleles(Ne);average observed heterozygosity(Ho)of 0.6985-0.9044;average expected heterozygosity(He)of 0.6501-0.7805;and the average polymorphism information content(PIC)at 0.5706-0.7226.Pairwise FST value between populations ranged from0.0307-0.1451,and Nei’s standard genetic distance between populations was 0.0938-0.4524.The expected heterozygosities in the domesticated populations(GA and HX)were significantly lower than those found in three wild populations(LZ,SS and JL),but no difference was detected when compared with the wild YN population.Likewise,no difference was found between the four wild populations or two domesticated populations.The expected heterozygosity in Pujiang No.1 was higher than the two domesticated populations and lower than the four wild populations.Regarding pairwise FST value between populations,permutation test P-values were significant between the GA,HX and PJ populations,but not between the four wild populations.These results showed that the expected heterozygosity in the selected strain of blunt snout bream,after seven generations of selective breeding,was lower than that of wild populations,but this strain retains higher levels of genetic diversity than domesticated populations.The genetic differences and differentiation amongst wild populations,domesticated populations and the genetically improved strain of blunt snout bream will provide important conservation criteria and guide the utilization of germplasm resources.     

Distribution of HLA class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ haplotypes in Chinese Han population based on family segregation

HLA haplotype analysis has important application value in human population genetics, anthropological research and HLA matching transplantation. Based on HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 genotyping data from 663 families including 663 leukemia patients and 991 related donors, the allele frequency (AF) and haplotype frequency (HF) of two-, three- and five-locus haplotype distribution patterns in the Chinese Han population were determined by family segregation. A total of 38 alleles at A locus, 75 alleles at B locus, 35 alleles at C locus, 53 alleles at DRB1 locus and 22 alleles at DQB1 locus were discovered in this population. The frequencies of these alleles were basically consistent with those of previous reports except for some tiny differences. The study found 11 A-C, 15 C-B, 4 B-DRB1 and 11 DRB1-DQB1 two-locus haplotypes with a frequency over 2%. The number of A-C-B and A-B-DRB1 three-locus haplotype with a frequency over 1% were 11 and 3 respectively. The most common HLA-A-C-B-DRB1-DQB1 haplotype (HF>1%) were A*3001-C*0602-B*1302-DR*0701-DQ*0202 (4.30%), A*0207-C*0102-B*4601-DR*0901-DQ*0303 (3.07%), A*3303-C*0302-B*5801-DR*0301-DQ*0201 (1.49%) and A*1101-C*0102-B*4601-DR*0901-DQ*0303 (1.01%). The results are helpful for finding matching donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and also contribute to transplant immunology, HLA-related diseases, research of human genetics and other fields.     

中国汉族人群原纤维蛋白-1基因(FBN1)第27内含子G/A多态性

采用PCR-ASO方法, 对日本筑波大学101名中国汉族留学人员的DNA样品进行了原纤维蛋白-1基因(FBN1)第27内含子G/A多态性测定。结果发现,A等位基因频率为0.5396,G等位基因频率为0.4604。与Tynan等人报道的数据(A和G等位基因的频率分别为0.1675和0.8325)相比,有非常显著差异(P<0 .01),提示两样本间有不同的遗传背景。 Abstract:The G/A polymorphisms in intron 27 of fibrillin-1 gene in 101 Chinese Hans who were studying and working in University of Tsukuba,Japan were analyzed with PCR-ASO method.The frequencies of A and G alleles,were 0.5396 and 0.4604 respectively.In a population sample reported by Tynan the frequency of A allele was 0.1675 that of G allele was 0.8325.The distribution of G/A polymorphism was significantly different between the two population sample(P<0.01),suggesting different genetic backgrounds.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in the endangered Hucho taimen from China

Hucho taimen are listed as endangered in China. The population size has declined recently, prompting an increase in the level of listing from grade three in 2002 to grade five in 2006. We analyzed the genetic diversity of wild populations using 17 microsatellite markers to establish a scientific basis for conservation of this species. We collected tissue samples from four populations in the Heilongjiang River basin: Huma River (HM), Hutou (HT), Haiqing (HQ), and Zhuaji (ZJ). A total of 21 loci were amplified, 18 of which were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9 (mean: 4.1905). There were 13 highly polymorphic loci and 5 moderately polymorphic loci. Analysis of five genetic diversity parameters (Na, Ne, Ho, He, and PIC) suggested moderate levels of diversity within the populations. The populations were ranked HT > HQ > ZJ > HM, but the differences in diversity were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A comparison of variation among all four populations suggested Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium at 20% of the loci. Genetic differentiation (Fst) was 0.0644 and the gene flow among populations was estimated at 3.36 individuals per generation. The majority of diversity (93.88%) occurred among individuals within a population. In contrast, relatively little (6.12%) of the genetic diversity was distributed between the populations. An analysis of genetic differentiation and genetic distance between pairs of populations revealed that both parameters were higher in comparisons of the HM population to the HT, HQ, and ZJ populations than among the three latter populations. This suggests that the HM population has a distinct genetic structure. We hypothesize that habitat degradation and excessive fishing, not low genetic diversity, has caused the decline in H. taimen populations. However, this species should be protected from further declines in genetic diversity.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in the endangered Hucho taimen from China

Hucho taimen are listed as endangered in China. The population size has declined recently, prompting an increase in the level of listing from grade three in 2002 to grade five in 2006. We analyzed the genetic diversity of wild populations using 17 microsatellite markers to establish a scientific basis for conservation of this species. We collected tissue samples from four populations in the Heilongjiang River basin: Huma River (HM), Hutou (HT), Haiqing (HQ), and Zhuaji (ZJ). A total of 21 loci were amplified, 18 of which were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9 (mean: 4.1905). There were 13 highly polymorphic loci and 5 moderately polymorphic loci. Analysis of five genetic diversity parameters (Na, Ne, Ho, He, and PIC) suggested moderate levels of diversity within the populations. The populations were ranked HT > HQ > ZJ > HM, but the differences in diversity were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A comparison of variation among all four populations suggested Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium at 20% of the loci. Genetic differentiation (Fst) was 0.0644 and the gene flow among populations was estimated at 3.36 individuals per generation. The majority of diversity (93.88%) occurred among individuals within a population. In contrast, relatively little (6.12%) of the genetic diversity was distributed between the populations. An analysis of genetic differentiation and genetic distance between pairs of populations revealed that both parameters were higher in comparisons of the HM population to the HT, HQ, and ZJ populations than among the three latter populations. This suggests that the HM population has a distinct genetic structure. We hypothesize that habitat degradation and excessive fishing, not low genetic diversity, has caused the decline in H. taimen populations. However, this species should be protected from further declines in genetic diversity.