Successful genotyping of microsatellites in the woolly mammoth

J Hered. 2012 May-Jun;103(3):459-64. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esr139. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

Genetic analyses using ancient DNA from Pleistocene and early Holocene fossils have largely relied on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Among woolly mammoths, Mammuthus primigenius, mtDNA analyses have identified 2 distinct clades (I and II) that diverged 1-2 Ma. Here, we establish that microsatellite markers can be effective on Pleistocene samples, successfully genotyping woolly mammoth specimens at 2 loci. Although significant differentiation at the 2 microsatellite loci was not detected between 16 clade I and 4 clade II woolly mammoths, our results demonstrate that the nuclear population structure of Pleistocene species can be examined using fast-evolving nuclear microsatellite markers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genetic Speciation
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • Heterozygote
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Mammoths / genetics*
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Phylogeny
  • Printers' Marks
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial