Genetic Polymorphisms in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene of Beluga Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins

• Main Author: Wisniewska, Urszula
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@URI 2020
• Subjects: Genetic Polymorphisms; Beluga Whales; Bottlenose Dolphins; Beluga; Beluga whale; Beluga*; Canis lupus; Delphinapterus leucas
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/srhonorsprog/752; https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/context/srhonorsprog/article/1860/viewcontent/Wisniewska_Poster.pdf

Gene polymorphism refers to genes that have more than one occupying allele within a gene’s locus. One gene polymorphism that has recently gained the interest of scientists are genes associated with the oxytocin receptor. Recent studies in terrestrial species have found that genetic polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor are associated with social behaviors in many species (Arahori et al., 2017). However, there is little information available about the oxytocin receptors in various aquatic species and no information on beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The aim of this research project is to gain a better understanding of the interspecies variation in the oxytocin receptor gene in beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins and to develop tools that could be used to assess intra-species variation in the future. The published sequences of the oxytocin receptor and non-coding regions near this gene in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were used to find the homologous regions in the beluga whale and bottlenose dolphin genome. Based on these sequences, PCR primers were designed so that these regions could be amplified and sequenced. These primers were then used to amplify the DNA from previously collected samples to ensure that the correct size fragments were amplified. By developing tools to detect genetic differences between individuals within aquatic species, it will be possible in the future to integrate this work with behavioral research to better understand social and maternal behavior, which are important for the conservation and management of marine mammal species.