Protein polymorphism and genetic divergence in slow loris (Genus Nycticebus)

Abstract

In this study, protein electrophoresis was assayed to detect genetic variation in Genus Nycticebus. A total of 29 samples (2 N. coucang and 27 N. pygmaeus) were analyzed for 42 genetic loci. In the 27 samples of N. pygmaeus. 4 lcoi were observed to be polymorphic. Therefore, the estimated P value (proportion of polymorphic loci) is 0.095, the A value (average number of alleles each locus) is 1.045. and the H value (mean individual heterozygosity) is 0.0040. After comparing the H of N. pygmaeus with those of other primates reported, we found that the protein variation in N. pygmaeus is slightly lower than the averge level. Additionally, we also observed obvious allele difference between N. pygmacus and N. coucang. There are no shared alleles between these two species in eight loci. The NEI's genetic distance between them was calculated as 0.2541, which falls in the spectrum of gentic difference between species in primates.