GENOMIC POLYMORPHISM OF MINI-SATELLITE AND MICROSATELLITE LOCI OF THEPARTHENOGENIC LACERTA-DAHLI REVEALED BY DNA-FINGERPRINTING

The variability of mini- and microsatellite DNAs among the individuals of the parthenogenic Caucasian rock lizard, Lacerta dahli, from popul ations of Armenia was studied by multiloci DNA fingerprinting. The DNA fingerprints of all specimens of the parthenospecies appeared to be p ractically identical (species-specific), whereas those of the biparent al species, L. raddei, proved to be individual-specific, Some of the m ini- and microsatellite loci of parthenogenic animals revealed genetic heterogeneity. Quantitative estimates of the genetic variability of m ini- and microsatellite DNA fragments, such as the mean index of simil arity (S) and heterozygosity (H), for parthenogenic lizards were 0.967 and 0.025, respectively, whereas in bisexual species they were simila r to those observed in other outbreeding populations (S = 0.38 and H = 0.695). Computer analysis of 1561 marker fragments of parthenogenic l izard DNAs discerned 12 DNA fingerprinting variants differing in 1-14 fragments. The data on the genetic variability of mini- and microsatte lite loci of L, dahli may illustrate the process of spontaneous mutage nesis and the initial stage of intraspecies differentiation in natural populations of parthenogenic species.