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Science 24 May 1974:
Vol. 184. no. 4139, pp. 908 - 909
DOI: 10.1126/science.184.4139.908
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Articles

Elephant Seals: Genetic Variation and Near Extinction

Michael L. Bonnell 1 and Robert K. Selander 2

1 Thimann Laboratories, University of California, Santa Cruz 95060
2 Department of Zoology, University of Texas, Austin 78712

Blood samples from northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), representing five breeding colonies in California and Mexico, were surveyed electrophoretically for protein variation reflecting underlying genetic differences. No polymorphisms were found among 21 proteins encoded by 24 loci. This uniform homozygosity may be a consequence of fixation of alleles brought about by the decimation of this species by sealers in the last century.


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