RESUMEN

Hemoglobin A(2) (alpha(2)delta(2)) in New World primates represents about 1/160 to 1/16 of total hemoglobin and, by virtue of this low proportion, is presumed to be functionally unimportant. Nonetheless, A(2) exhibits genetic polymorphism by electrophoresis in three out of five genera, whereas the major component, hemoglobin A (alpha(2)beta(2)), is electrophoretically invariant. Moreover, in four genera, including man, the evolutionary accumulation of mutations has been greater in delta than in beta Such findings suggest that both polymorphism and evolutionary changes can accrue to an effectively functionless and thus selectively nearly netutral gene.

Asunto(s)

Evolución Biológica , Variación Genética , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Primates , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Electroforesis de las Proteínas Sanguíneas , América Central , Frecuencia de los Genes , Haplorrinos , Humanos , América del Norte , Polimorfismo Genético , Selección Genética , América del Sur