THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF NATURAL POPULATIONS OF PAST AND PRESENT

近年来，分子方法学已被广泛用于 研究自然种群的遗传多样性模式。 为 例如，聚合酶链式反应允许特异性扩增 在不同分类群的研究中发现的DNA区域。 通过这种方法，我们扩增病毒，免疫系统基因座，癌基因， 线粒体DNA和其他基因组区域，基于与 已发表的实验室物种序列 调查遗传 这些基因组成分的多样性， 物种允许比较分析，可以告诉我们很多 关于进化分歧和功能适应。 一些 最近的进展包括：（1）发现广泛的血清阳性 25种猫科动物的猫免疫缺陷病毒，（2） 在食肉动物中发现高度可变的重复序列 线粒体DNA控制区，产生大量异质性， 方式让人想起准种扩张，（3）严重的侵扰 遗传性缺失的亚洲狮与致病性乳头瘤病毒， (4)解决了小熊猫起源的系统发育之谜， 将物种与Procyonidae进行比对，以及（5）进一步的分子生物学鉴定。 解决南美洲小型猫科动物中猫科动物的进化问题， 泛生种

Molecular methodology has been used extensively in recent years to investigate patterns of genetic diversity in natural populations. For example, the polymerase chain reaction permits the specific amplification of DNA regions that have been identified from research in different taxa. By this methodology we amplify viral, immune system loci, oncogenes, mitochondrial DNA, and other genomic regions based on homology with published sequences from laboratory species. Investigating genetic diversity in these genomic components from free-ranging nondomestic species permits a comparative analysis which can tell us a great deal about evolutionary divergence and functional adaptation. Some of the more recent advances include: (1) discovery of widespread seroprevalence with 25 species of Felidae for feline immunodeficiency virus, (2) discovery of highly mutable repeat sequences in the carnivore mitochondrial DNA control region that produce massive heteroplasmy in a manner reminiscent of quasi species expansion, (3) the severe infestation of genetically depauperate Asiatic lions with pathogenic papillomavirus, (4) solving the phylogenetic puzzle about the red panda's origins by aligning the species with Procyonidae, and (5) further molecular resolution of Felidae evolution among South American small cats and pantherine species.