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dc.contributor.authorGlover, Kevin A.
dc.contributor.authorKanda, Naoisha
dc.contributor.authorHaug, Tore
dc.contributor.authorPastene, Luis A
dc.contributor.authorØien, Nils
dc.contributor.authorSeliussen, Bjørghild Breistein
dc.contributor.authorSørvik, Anne Grete Eide
dc.contributor.authorSkaug, Hans Julius
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-20T08:18:28Z
dc.date.available2013-06-20T08:18:28Z
dc.date.issued2013-04-15
dc.identifier.issn1471-2156
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11250/109290
dc.description.abstractBackground: Minke whales are separated into two genetically distinct species: the Antarctic minke whale found in the southern hemisphere, and the common minke whale which is cosmopolitan. The common minke whale is further divided into three allopatric sub-species found in the North Pacific, southern hemisphere, and the North Atlantic. Here, we aimed to identify the genetic ancestry of a pregnant female minke whale captured in the North Atlantic in 2010, and her fetus, using data from the mtDNA control region, 11 microsatellite loci and a sex determining marker. Results: All statistical parameters demonstrated that the mother was a hybrid displaying maternal and paternal contribution from North Atlantic common and Antarctic minke whales respectively. Her female fetus displayed greater genetic similarity to North Atlantic common minke whales than herself, strongly suggesting that the hybrid mother had paired with a North Atlantic common minke whale. Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrates, for the first time, that hybrids between minke whale species may be fertile, and that they can back-cross. Whether contact between these species represents a contemporary event linked with documented recent changes in the Antarctic ecosystem, or has occurred at a low frequency over many years, remains open.no_NO
dc.language.isoengno_NO
dc.publisherBioMed Centralno_NO
dc.subjectminke whaleno_NO
dc.subjectvågehvalno_NO
dc.titleHybrids between common and Antarctic minke whales are fertile and can back-crossno_NO
dc.typeJournal articleno_NO
dc.typePeer reviewedno_NO
dc.subject.nsiVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Marine biology: 497no_NO
dc.source.pagenumber11 s.no_NO
dc.source.volume14no_NO
dc.source.journalBMC Geneticsno_NO
dc.source.issue25no_NO
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2156-14-25


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