Jp. Grobler et Fh. Vanderbank, ALLOZYME DIVERGENCE AMONG 4 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SUBFAMILY ALCELAPHINAE (FAMILY, BOVIDAE), Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B. Comparative biochemistry, 112(2), 1995, pp. 303-308
We used protein gel electrophoresis to study genetic diversity within
and between blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), black wildebeest
(C. gnou), red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) and blesbok (D
amaliscus dorcas phillipsi). Twenty-nine protein encoding loci were re
solved, average heterozygosity ranged from 3.25-5.36% and between popu
lation gene diversity accounted for the major share of the total relat
ive gene diversity (69.34%). Genetic distance values ranged from 0.021
to 0.132 and 0.029 to 0.136, with closest identity between the two wi
ldebeest species (as expected for congeneric species). The results are
discussed with specific reference to taxonomic relationships between
species within the subfamily where interbreeding is known to have occu
rred.