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Posted by K.E. on September 19, 2002 at 09:57:31:
In Reply to: Re: DNA TESTING posted by Shawn Lockhart on September 19, 2002 at 08:47:45:
:If you get on pubmed and type in Elaphe, you will find a paper by Burbrink et al. from 2000 in the journal Evolution that uses mDNA sequencing to divide the obsoleta complex. As far as I know, there are no other markers, but if you can define a pure population, markers are not that hard to create using random primers. The problem is that with so much intergradation, how do you define a pure population? I think the Burbrink paper will give you some insights into your question.
:SHAWN
:Thanks Shawn
I think that there are varying questions here though. I am under the impression that some people doubt that this is even an obsoleta. I have no doubt that it is and agree with you that there could be some problems in defining normal parameters. What I can do in the near future is do scale counts on the mutants and compare them to the numerous normal Jefferson co, KY rats that I have in my collection. I know that there would be variation and would expect that the mutants would fall within the parameters of the normals. In reality though, this tells us nothing. I would also expect to find variation within non-freaks using a DNA test and would expect for the same variance in the mutants. If these results were distributed to numerous researchers for analysis, they would then disagree amongst themselves over the results.This has happened over and over when populations are in the process of being given sub-specific status. I think that a lot of people are under the impression that DNA tests are currently able to produce definate and clear results. When comparing different families of organisms they often do, however, there have been instances where different genera have been found to have very little variance. I think it is a pipe dream to expect to be able to tell whether or not these obsoletas absolutely came from this county using DNA testing because they are so variable. It may be difficult to determine whether these animals came from Kentucky, or even the south eastern U.S. What DNA testing could easily prove however, is that these guys are obsoletas, but why test when any hayseed farmer can take one look at any of these guys and say, "That shore is one of the darndest lookin cow suckers I ever saw." But hey, if these guys need some "expert" to tell them what any fool with one of Conant's field guides can, so be it!!
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