Serum Albumin Polymorphisms in Natural and Laboratory Populations of Peromyscus

Abstract

Electrophoresis of serum from 14 species of Peromyscus revealed albumin polymorphisms in samples of P. maniculatus, P. leucopus, P. truei, P. difficilis, P. me galops, and P. floridanus. All samples of P. melanotis, P. crinitis, P. boylii, P. ochraventer, P. eremicus, P. californicus, and P. thomasi were mono-morphic. Two samples of P. polionotus were both monomorphic, but they differed from each other. Polymorphisms were found in natural populations of P. maniculatus, P. leucopus, P. truei, and P. megalops. In P. maniculatus the long-tailed, forest dwelling forms of northern and western North America were monomorphic and the short-tailed, grassland inhabiting forms tended to be polymorphic. No relationship between the electrophoretic mobilities of the serum albumins of the different species and the presumed phylogenetic relationships of these species was observed.