Divergent Patterns of Variation in Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Alleles Among Antarctic Phocid Pinnipeds

• Published in: Journal of Mammalogy
• Main Authors: Lehman, Niles, Decker, Debra J., Stewart, Brent S.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2004
• Subjects: Feature Articles; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Ross Sea; Weddell; Hydrurga; Antarc*; Antarctica; Crabeater Seals; Hydrurga leptonyx; Leopard Seals; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/85/6/1215; https://doi.org/10.1644/BDW-010.1

The 4 species of phocid pinnipeds that live in pack-ice habitats of the Antarctic have been relatively isolated from infectious diseases that are prevalent in mammals elsewhere. Consequently, patterns of genetic variability at key immune system loci in these seals might be primarily related to other...