PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE CONTROLS ON LIFE-HISTORY VARIATION: THE EVOLUTION OF LITTER SIZE IN WHITE-FOOTED MICE (PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS)

Recruitment of litter-mates of nest-box-inhabiting white-footed mice was monitored to study the evolution of litter size. The frequency distribution of litter sizes was nonsymmetrical, and the most frequent litter size was less than the optimum. This was not the result of differential parental survival, which was independent of litter size produced. Recruitment remained constant or increased slightly to a peak in litters of five young, and then dropped precipitously for larger litters. The single optimum litter size of five did not appear to have any physiological correlates. Instead, the equally low probability of successful recruitment of any young from any given litter may have given rise to a bet-hedging strategy of frequent iterated reproductions. A theoretical analysis of optimal parental investment in offspring was initiated under the assumption that optimal brood size represents a maximization of differences between age-specific costs and benefits of reproduction, both of which should be measured in constant currency of inclusive fitness. In the past, benefit has been measured by current fecundity, and cost by residual reproductive value. However, reproductive value is an appropriate estimate of inclusive fitness only for organisms in which parental investment has little effect on the subsequent survival of offspring to reproductive age. Reproductive value weighted by offspring survival and devalued by the degree of genetic relatedness defines a new currency, replacement value, which is more appropriate for evaluating the costs and benefits of parent-offspring conflict over parental investment in current as opposed to future young. Total parent-offspring conflict intensifies with increases in current brood size. For species with severe reproductive constraints, such as post-partum estrus in white-footed mice, such conflict may force parents to curtail investment in current offspring at or near parturition of subsequent litters, even if that means reducing the survival of current young.     

UNDERSTANDING THE BASIS OF DIMINISHED GENE FLOW BETWEEN HYBRIDIZING CHROMOSOME RACES OF THE HOUSE MOUSE

Speciation may be promoted in hybrid zones if there is an interruption to gene flow between the hybridizing forms. For hybridizing chromosome races of the house mouse in Valtellina (Italy), distinguished by whole‐arm chromosomal rearrangements, previous studies have shown that there is greater interruption to gene flow at the centromeres of chromosomes that differ between the races than at distal regions of the same chromosome or at the centromeres of other chromosomes. Here, by increasing the number of markers along race‐specific chromosomes, we reveal a decay in between‐race genetic differentiation from the centromere to the distal telomere. For the first time, we use simulation models to investigate the possible role of recombination suppression and hybrid breakdown in generating this pattern. We also consider epistasis and selective sweeps as explanations for isolated chromosomal regions away from the centromere showing differentiation between the races. Hybrid breakdown alone is the simplest explanation for the decay in genetic differentiation with distance from the centromere. Robertsonian fusions/whole‐arm reciprocal translocations are common chromosomal rearrangements characterizing both closely related species and races within species, and this fine‐scale empirical analysis suggests that the unfitness associated with these rearrangements in the heterozygous state may contribute to the speciation process.     

树鼠mtDNA限制性内切酶图谱及其与小家鼠褐家鼠的亲缘关系

本实验用ＡｐｅⅠ,ＡｖａⅠ,ＢａｍＨⅠ,ＢｃｌⅠ,ＢｇｌⅠ,ＣｌａⅠ,ＥｃｏＲⅠ,ＥｃｏＲＶ,ＨｐａⅠ,ＰｓｔⅠ,ＰｖｕⅡ,ＳｃａⅠ,ＸｂａⅠ等１３种限制性内切酶分析树鼠（Ｃｈｉｒｏｍｙｓｃｕｓｃｈｉｒｏｐｅｓ）的ｍｔＤＮＡ限制性片段长度多态性,并用双酶解法构建了其中８种酶的限制性内切酶图谱。根据限制性片段差异法和分子钟,计算并讨论树鼠和小家鼠（Ｍｕｓｍｕｓｃｕｌｕｓ）、褐家鼠（Ｒａｔｔｕｓｎｏｒｖｅｇｉｃｕｓ）的ｍｔＤＮＡ遗传距离和亲缘关系。结果表明树鼠与褐家鼠的关系较接近,两者的分歧时间在距今１５００─２０００万年前,即处于中新世早中期。     

小麦根尖细胞分化过程中DNA,RNA和蛋白质含量变化的研究

小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)种子在25℃条件下萌发3d,根生长至1～2cm长时,于双筒解剖镜下严格切取根分生区、伸长区和成熟区。用专一性荧光染料Hochest33258、Pyronin G和FITC分别染细胞核DNA、RNA和蛋白质,并用自动图像分析技术和细胞荧光测定术分别测定三个区中各125个细胞核DNA的相对含量和各100个细胞中RNA和蛋白质的相对含量。核DNA相对含量随着根尖细胞分化的进程,DNA含量递增,成熟区细胞中含量最高。RNA的相对含量则与之相反,在分生区细胞中含量最高,成熟区细胞中含量最低。蛋白质的相对含量则在伸长区细胞中最高,分生区细胞中最低。讨论了根尖细胞分化过程中DNA、RNA和蛋白质三者之间变化的一些内在联系。     

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA VARIATION WITHIN AND BETWEEN SPECIES OF THE PAPILIO MACHAON GROUP OF SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLIES

Species limits and phylogenetic relationships in the Papilio machaon species group are potentially confounded by a complex pattern of Pleistocene range fragmentation, hybridization, and ecological race formation. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction-site analysis has been used to define genetic affinities and genetic population structure within this species group. The distribution of mtDNA haplotypes generally confirms prior phylogenetic hypotheses and species delineations, but there is poor correspondence between ecological races and mtDNA haplotypes. The amount and distribution of mtDNA sequence variation within species vary among species, reflecting differences in current patterns of gene flow and/or historical population structure. In spite of wing pattern characters that ally them with P. polyxenes, both P. joanae and P. brevicauda have mtDNA that is closely related to that of P. machaon. We suggest that P. joanae and P. brevicauda are of hybrid origin.     

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA AND MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF ALBINARIA POPULATIONS (GASTROPODA: CLAUSILIIDAE)

Albinaria, despite its restricted geographical distribution,exhibits an extreme degree of differentiation. The use of conventionalor numerical taxonomy has not facilitated the understandingof evolution of the genus. Twelve populations belonging to fourspecies were studied with a combined approach using mitochondrialDNA (mtDNA) and qualitative morphological data. The completemtDNA genome of A. coerulea from Amorgos island was cloned andused in mtDNA restriction site analysis of the other populations.Maximum parsimony cladistic analysis of nine populations providedtrees sharing the same basic topology. Certain restriction sitesand morphological characters appear to be species specific,while incongruity is observed at the intraspecific level. Sequencedivergence and the paleogeographic history of the area wereused for construction of an evolutionary scenario and a roughestimation of the Albinaria mtDNA clock. (Received 7 February 1994; accepted 20 July 1994)     

GENETIC SUBDIVISIONS AMONG SMALL CANIDS: MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DIFFERENTIATION OF SWIFT,KIT, AND ARCTIC FOXES

Gene flow can effectively suppress genetic divergence among widely separated populations in highly mobile species. However, the same may not be true of species that typically disperse over shorter distances. Using mtDNA restriction-site and sequence analyses, we evaluate the extent of divergence among populations of two small relatively sedentary North American canids, the kit and swift foxes (genus Vulpes). We determine the significance of genetic differentiation among populations separated by distance and those separated by discrete topographic barriers. Our results show the among-population component of genetic variation in kit and swift foxes is large and similar to that of small rodents with limited dispersal ability. In addition, we found two distinct groupings of genotypes, separated by the Rocky Mountains, corresponding to the traditional division between kit and swift fox populations. Previous workers have characterized these morphologically similar populations either as separate species or subspecies. Our mtDNA data also suggest that kit and swift fox populations hybridize over a limited geographic area. However, the sequence divergence between kit and swift foxes is similar to that between these taxa and the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), a morphologically distinct species commonly placed in a separate genus. This result presents a dilemma for species concepts, and we conclude that kit and swift foxes should be recognized as separate species.     

小鼠内细胞团标志蛋白的性质、分离和纯化

我们用二相电泳方法在小鼠畸胎瘤系统中发现小鼠胚胎内细胞团标志蛋白双联体(分子量39,000,p14.4—4.5)也存在于未分化的胚胎癌细胞株(PSAI-NG2、F9、PCC3)中,但在已分化细胞株滋养层母细胞癌TDM1中用二相电泳方法不能检查到这蛋白。把EC细胞分为细胞质、细胞核、染色体三部分再进行检查,可以清楚地看到这蛋白主要存在于染色体部分。把染色体再分成0.35M NaCl可溶性,2M NaCl可溶性及2M NaCl不溶性三个组份时,则这蛋白出现在0.35M NaCl可溶性组分中,表明它是与染色体疏松结合的非组蛋白染色体蛋白。这蛋白是一种耐热性蛋白,在80℃受热10分钟不能使它变性。用制备型SDS聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对经热处理的0.36M NaCl可溶性染色体蛋白进行分离,可得到电泳纯的小鼠内细胞团标志蛋白。由于这蛋白约占细胞总蛋白0.6%,与染色体疏松结合,又与早期胚胎细胞的多能性相关,提示它在维持多能细胞染色体构象方面有重要作用。     

THE EFFECT OF ETHIDIUM BROMIDE ON MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SYNTHESIS AND MITOCHONDRIAL DNA STRUCTURE IN HELA CELLS

The synthesis of mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) in HeLa cells is selectively inhibited by relatively low concentrations of ethidium bromide. After exposure of cells to strongly inhibitory concentrations of the drug, the apparent superhelix density of mDNA is rapidly increased, as judged by its buoyant density in CsCl in the presence of ethidium bromide. Mitochondrial DNA synthesized in the presence of partially inhibitory concentrations of ethidium bromide is also altered in its buoyant density in the presence of the dye, but is more heterogeneous in this respect. However, the change in buoyant density of newly synthesized mDNA may be explained by changes in structure other than a change in superhelix density, as indicated by its increased resistance to digestion by pancreatic DNase.     

THE VARIABLE GENOMIC ARCHITECTURE OF ISOLATION BETWEEN HYBRIDIZING SPECIES OF HOUSE MICE

Studies of the genetics of hybrid zones can provide insight into the genomic architecture of species boundaries. By examining patterns of introgression of multiple loci across a hybrid zone, it may be possible to identify regions of the genome that have experienced selection. Here, we present a comparison of introgression in two replicate transects through the house mouse hybrid zone through central Europe, using data from 41 single nucleotide markers. Using both genomic and geographic clines, we found many differences in patterns of introgression between the two transects, as well as some similarities. We found that many loci may have experienced the effects of selection at linked sites, including selection against hybrid genotypes, as well as positive selection in the form of genotypes introgressed into a foreign genetic background. We also found many positive associations of conspecific alleles among unlinked markers, which could be caused by epistatic interactions. Different patterns of introgression in the two transects highlight the challenge of using hybrid zones to identify genes underlying isolation and raise the possibility that the genetic basis of isolation between these species may be dependent on the local population genetic make-up or the local ecological setting.     

ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DIVERSITY WITHIN AND BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

DNA sequences of the mitochondrial control region of 180 North Atlantic right whales ( Euhalaena glacialis ) and 16 South Atlantic right whales ( E. australis ) have been determined using a combination of direct DNA sequencing and single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Five haplotypes were found in E. glacialis , and 10 in E. australis , but none were shared, supporting the reproductive isolation and separate species status of the North and South Atlantic right whales. One haplotype in E, glacialis was found in only three males born before 1982 and this matriline will likely be lost soon. The nucleotide diversity estimates for the five North Atlantic right whale haplotypes was 0.6% and 2.0% for the 10 haplotypes found in the South Atlantic right whales. The average haplotypic diversity was 0.87 in E. glacialis and 0.96 in E. australis , which is consistent with other studies showing a lower level of genetic variation in the North Atlantic right whale. Phylogenetic analysis identified two major assemblages of haplotypes in E. australis from the samples collected from Peninsula Valdes, suggesting a mixing of two historically divergent populations. Using genetic distance measurements with a divergence rate of 0.5%–1.0%/myr, we estimate E. glacialis diverged from E. australis 3–12.5 mya.