HIGHLY REPEATED DNA-SEQUENCES AS PHYLOGENETIC MARKERS AMONG THE GALAGINAE

Highly repeated DNA sequences were investigated as potential phylogene tic indicators among five species of galagines. One lorisine, one chei rogaleid, and two lemurid species were also investigated as progressiv ely more distant outgroups. The lorisids displayed strong conservatism with regard to these sequences, to the point where the galagine speci es proved difficult to differentiate. When restriction fragment differ ences were observed, the galagine species fell into two groups: one co ntaining the greater galagos and G. alleni and the other comprising th e lesser galagos. The sequences of the cheirogaleid Microcebus murinus were found to be highly species-specific, bearing little resemblance to those of the galagines or the lemurids. Common sequences detected b etween M. murinus and G. senegalensis may be ancient sequences shared by all strepsirhines. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.