N. Okumura et al., Genetic variation of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b region in Japanesenative dog breeds (Canis familiaris), ZOOL SCI, 15(5), 1998, pp. 699-701
Partial sequences (454 bases) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b
gene (cyt b) were determined for 94 dogs including 73 Japanese native anim
als. Thirteen nucleotide positions of this region showed nucleotide substit
utions, which were all transitions. Three of 13 nucleotide substitutions we
re nonsynonymous. A total of 14 cyt b haplotypes were found, but the Japane
se native dog breeds could not be differentiated as distinct clusters in ph
ylogenetic trees. These results support the previous view that genetic vari
ations observed among Japanese native dog breeds could have resulted from i
nterbreeding and/or intrabreeding.