No evidence of prenatal diversifying selection at locus or supertype levels in the dog MHC class II loci.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite decades of studying, the mechanisms maintaining high diversity in the genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) are still puzzling scientists. In addition to pathogen recognition and other functions, MHC molecules may act prenatally in mate choice and in maternal-foetal interactions. These interactions are potential selective mechanisms that increase genetic diversity in the MHC. During pregnancy, immune response has a dual role: the foetus represents foreign tissue compared to mother, but histo-incompatibility is required for successful pregnancy. We have studied the prenatal selection in MHC class II loci (DLA-DQA1, DLA-DQB1 and DLA-DRB1) in domestic dogs by comparing the observed and expected offspring genotype proportions in 110 dog families. Severa

SUBMITTER: Niskanen AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5116190 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature