Distribution of T-Haplotypes in Natural Populations of Wild House Mice

Abstract

Data obtained from published studies and from mice trapped for use in our laboratory were analyzed to determine the relationship between frequency of t -haplotypes in wild house mice ( Mus musculus ) and other variables such as sex, age at capture, and kind of t -haplotype found in the population. In addition, the frequency of t -alleles in populations from which mice had been sampled repeatedly was examined to determine whether, within populations, frequency of t -haplotypes tends to change over time. Populations in which semilethal haplotypes predominated had higher frequencies of heterozygous animals than populations in which the predominant haplotype was a lethal. Furthermore, frequencies of t -haplotypes were higher in males than in females. However, no difference in frequency of t -alleles was found between mice trapped as juveniles and individuals of the same sex trapped as adults. Furthermore, only one of 14 populations from which mice were trapped repeatedly showed evidence of a change in frequency of heterozygotes over time. The relevance of these data for potential processes controlling the frequency of t -haplotypes in wild populations is discussed.