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Mhc class II diversity and balancing selection in greater prairie-chickens

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Abstract

The major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) of domestic chickens has been characterized as small and relatively simple compared with that of mammals. However, there is growing evidence that the Mhc of many bird lineages may be more complex, even within the Order Galliformes. In this study, we measured genetic variation and balancing selection at Mhc loci in another galliform, the greater prairie-chicken. We cloned and sequenced a 239 bp fragment of Mhc Class II β-chain (BLB) exon 2 in 14 individuals. There was a total of 10 unique sequences and a minimum of four BLB loci. The d N/d S ratio at peptide-binding codons was significantly greater than one, suggesting balancing selection is acting on the BLB. We also recovered two YLB sequences, which clustered tightly with YLB sequences from three other species: domestic chicken, black grouse and common quail. The relatively large number of loci revealed in our study suggests that even closely related galliforms differ in the level of Mhc variation and structure.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by a Research Growth Initiative grant from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Graduate School and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to PD and LW and grants from the American Ornithologists’ Union and the Ruth Walker Research Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to JE. We thank J. Toepfer, J. Johnson and R. Bellinger for tissue collection and processing and Erika Olson for assistance in the lab.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA

    John A. Eimes, Jennifer L. Bollmer, Peter O. Dunn, Linda A. Whittingham & Charles Wimpee

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  1. John A. Eimes
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  2. Jennifer L. Bollmer
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  3. Peter O. Dunn
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Correspondence to John A. Eimes.

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Eimes, J.A., Bollmer, J.L., Dunn, P.O. et al. Mhc class II diversity and balancing selection in greater prairie-chickens. Genetica 138, 265–271 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-009-9417-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-009-9417-4

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