Superoxide dismutase expression in the lizard genus Anolis: systematic significance of a silenced gene

Data on the expression of a duplicated superoxide dismutase locus are prese nted for 41 species in the lizard genus Anolis. Expression of a single locu s in these forms has resulted from several loss (silencing) events, and is regarded as a derived condition from the primitive duplicated state. There is apparent consistency in the presence or loss of the duplication within s everal groups known to be related based on morphological or other biochemic al evidence. However, it is demonstrated here that the silencing of the gen e has occurred independently in several infrageneric lineages. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.