DNA-FINGERPRINTING IN 3 SPECIES OF NEOTROPICAL PRIMATES

DNA fingerprinting allows the simultaneous detection of a large number of hypervariable loci consisting of highly polymorphic tandem repeat units that are extensively dispersed in the genome. With the 33.6 huma n minisatellite probe, hypervariable fragments were detected, for the first time, in the genome of three different species of wild-caught ne otropical primates: Aotus infulatus, Aotus azarae, and Cebus apella. A s in the human, these species were highly polymorphic, showing distinc tive, individual-specific patterns. Estimates of relatedness within ea ch group were calculated from interspecific comparisons based on the n umber of shared fragments between individuals. This work shows that th e 33.6 human minisatellite probe can be very useful for increasing our understanding of population dynamics and behavior of these species in their natural habitat. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.