NONGENETIC VARIATION, GENETIC-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS AND ALTERED GENE-EXPRESSION .2. DISEASE, PARASITE AND POLLUTION EFFECTS

The use of protein electrophoretic data for determining the relationsh ips among species or populations is widespread and generally accepted. However, there are many confounding factors that may alter the result s of an electrophoretic study and may possibly allow erroneous conclus ions to be drawn in taxonomic, systematic or population studies. Measu red enzyme activities can also be affected significantly. Parasites, d isease and pollution can affect levels of enzyme activity, and electro phoretic results can be affected both quantitatively and qualitatively . Blood serum is particularly vulnerable to variation due to disease, pollution or parasites because damaged tissues may release tissue-spec ific enzymes into the bloodstream. Capture, handling, chemical treatme nts, bacteria, natural toxins and consumed food may also contribute to variation. Potential pollution impacts at specimen collection sites s hould be investigated, and study organisms should be inspected and/or treated for detection and elimination of parasites and disease. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Inc.