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Unusually high frequency of (CT) n and (GT) n microsatellite loci in a yellowjacket wasp, Vespula rufa (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Author(s) -
Thorén P. A.,
Paxton R. J.,
Estoup A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2583.1995.tb00019.x
Subject(s) - microsatellite , biology , vespidae , tandem repeat , hymenoptera , locus (genetics) , genome , genetics , zoology , gene , allele
A high number of (GT) n and (CT) n microsatellites were isolated from a partial genomic library of a primitively eusocial wasp, Vespula rufa. On average, (GT) n and (CT) n repeats occur in the genome approximately every 8 kb and 2.5 kb respectively. This is the highest density of dinucleotide microsatellites reported in the literature. Predominant categories of repeats are imperfect and compound repeats for (GT) n microsatellites and perfect repeats for (CT) n microsatellites. Comparisons with other Hymenoptera and with mammalian species showed significant differences in the frequency distribution of these categories of repeats. Many (CT) n and (GT) n repeats are surrounded by various types of microsatellites, suggesting an associative distribution of short tandem repeats. A high level of intracolonial polymorphism is demonstrated with one microsatellite locus, showing that multiple mating of the queen occurs in V. rufa.