Genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex class II in Alaskan caribou herds

• Published in: International journal of immunogenetics Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 109 - 119
• Main Authors: Kennedy, L. J., Modrell, A., Groves, P., Wei, Z., Single, R. M., Happ, G. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Alaska; Animals; Data processing; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic diversity; Genetic Loci - genetics; Genetic markers; Genetic Variation; Geography; Haplotypes - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; Major histocompatibility complex; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Microsatellites; Reindeer - genetics; Species Specificity; Alaska
• ISSN: 1744-3121; 1744-313X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-313X.2010.00973.x

Summary We have sampled five different herds of caribou in Alaska to ascertain their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II diversity, and to assess whether the herds were significantly different in their MHC class II allele profiles. We complemented the MHC results with data from nine neutral microsatellite markers. The results indicate that while the microsatellites are diverse, there are no significant differences between the herds. However, for the MHC, we have shown that there is diversity at three of the four loci studied, the different herds have significantly different MHC class II allele profiles. It is also clear that although some of the herds have overlapping ranges, they are still different for their MHC class II alleles.