Hemoglobin polymorphism in macaques with reference to the evolution ofMacaca fascicularis andMacaca mulatta

Blood samples were collected fromMacaca fascicularis andMacaca mulatta living in indoor breeding groups and investigated electrophoretically. Hemoglobin polymorphism was observed in both species. Isoelectric focusing was performed on urea denaturated samples to test the hypothesis of a site duplication at theα-chain locus inM. fascicularis (Barnicot et al., 1970). The results of our investigations do not support the above mentioned hypothesis. Only one locus coding theα-chain was detected, and this is under the control of two alleles. Evolutionary events at the molecular level are discussed, as well asWheatley's hypothesis (1980) that malaria was an important force behind divergence in both species. InM. fascicularis hemoglobin variants might be similarily connected with malaria resistance as in man. We suggest that this was not an important process behind speciation in macaques.