Microsatellite loci variation and investigation of gene flow between two karyoforms of Cricetulus barabensis sensu lato (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

• Published in: Russian journal of genetics 2017, Vol.53 (1), p.76-90
• Main Authors: Poplavskaya, N. S., Lebedev, V. S., Bannikova, A. A., Belokon, M. M., Belokon, Yu. S., Pavlenko, M. V., Korablev, V. P., Kartavtseva, I. V., Bazhenov, Yu. A., Surov, A. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Genetics; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Human Genetics; Microbial Genetics and Genomics
• ISSN: 1022-7954; 1608-3369
• DOI: 10.1134/S1022795417010100

We examine the diversity of six microsatellite loci and partial RAG1 exon of “barabensis” and “pseudogriseus” karyoforms in Cricetulus barabensis sensu lato species complex. A total of 435 specimens from 68 localities ranging from Altai to the Far East are investigated. The results of the population structure analysis (factor analysis and NJ tree based on Nei genetic distances) support subdivision into two well-differentiated clusters corresponding to the two karyoforms. These karyoforms are also well differentiated by the level of microsatellite variability. In several “barabensis” specimens, we found microsatellite alleles that are common in “pseudogriseus” populations but are otherwise absent in “barabensis.” Most of these specimens originate from a single population in one of the zones of potential contact between karyoforms, Kharkhorin in Central Mongolia. These molecular results are consistent with previously published karyological data in suggesting that rare hybridization events between the two chromosomal races occur in nature.