SEQUENCES OF THE PRIMATE EPSILON-GLOBIN GENE - IMPLICATIONS FOR SYSTEMATICS OF THE MARMOSETS AND OTHER NEW-WORLD PRIMATES

Sequences of the epsilon-globin gene were determined for five species of marmosets, along with approximately 2 kb of 5' flanking sequence. A n analysis of these data, compared with those of other primates strong ly supports the classification of Callithrix jacchus and C. geoffroyi into the jacchus group, and C. argentata and C. mauesi into the argent ata group. The pygmy marmoset, formerly identified as Cebuella pygmaea joined strongly to the argentata group, indicating that without the p ygmy marmoset the genus Callithrix would be paraphyletic. Our data sup port recent studies which indicate that C. pygmaea should be included in the genus Callithrix. Relationships among other primates were as in dicated by previous studies of epsilon-globin sequences. Divergence ti mes were estimated according to a local molecular clock. These calcula tions indicated the divergence of C. mauesi and C. argentata to be app roximately 1.6-1.9 Myr (million years ago), and the most recent common ancestor of the marmosets to be between 4.5 and 4.7 Myr. The latter e stimate corresponds well to the date of 4.6 Myr calculated from an ind ependent data set. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.