Variation in MHC genotypes in two populations of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) with different population histories

• Published in: Ecology and Evolution
• Main Authors: Borg, Åsa Alexandra, Pedersen, Sindre Andre, Jensen, Henrik, Westerdahl, Helena
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011
• Subjects: Original Research; Aldra; Helgeland; Norway
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3287304; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22393491; https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.13

Small populations are likely to have a low genetic ability for disease resistance due to loss of genetic variation through inbreeding and genetic drift. In vertebrates, the highest genetic diversity of the immune system is located at genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Interesti...