Advisor Information
James Wilson
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
26-3-2021 12:00 AM
End Date
26-3-2021 12:00 AM
Abstract
During the past few years, the population of melanistic squirrels in Nebraska has increased. These color variations have been associated with variation in the Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) genes, which are responsible for pigment production. DNA was isolated from 3 grey and 46 fox squirrels collected from Eastern Nebraska; 8 of the fox squirrels were melanistic in color. Primers were designed to amplify and sequence MC1R and three portions of ASIP to examine the extent of variation in these genes in local squirrels. The sequences were aligned to the grey squirrel reference genome. All fox squirrels had 7 loci in MC1R that differed from the grey squirrel reference genome. All 8 of the black squirrels were heterozygous for the 24-bp deletion previously associated with melanism. No grey squirrels had the deletion in MC1R associated with melanistic color. Within the 38 orange squirrels there were three variants in the MC1R gene, for which two were heterozygous. There were 3 variations within the black and the grey squirrels respectively in the MC1R gene. In ASIP, no variation was observed. No grey squirrels had the deletion in MC1Rassociated with melanistic color. This information helps to characterize variation in these genes in squirrels in Eastern Nebraska.
Variation in genes responsible for melanism in Sciurus carolinensis and Sciurus niger
During the past few years, the population of melanistic squirrels in Nebraska has increased. These color variations have been associated with variation in the Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) genes, which are responsible for pigment production. DNA was isolated from 3 grey and 46 fox squirrels collected from Eastern Nebraska; 8 of the fox squirrels were melanistic in color. Primers were designed to amplify and sequence MC1R and three portions of ASIP to examine the extent of variation in these genes in local squirrels. The sequences were aligned to the grey squirrel reference genome. All fox squirrels had 7 loci in MC1R that differed from the grey squirrel reference genome. All 8 of the black squirrels were heterozygous for the 24-bp deletion previously associated with melanism. No grey squirrels had the deletion in MC1R associated with melanistic color. Within the 38 orange squirrels there were three variants in the MC1R gene, for which two were heterozygous. There were 3 variations within the black and the grey squirrels respectively in the MC1R gene. In ASIP, no variation was observed. No grey squirrels had the deletion in MC1Rassociated with melanistic color. This information helps to characterize variation in these genes in squirrels in Eastern Nebraska.
Additional Information (Optional)
On march 26th I have Biochem class from 8-8:50am