Old age, multiple formations or genetic plasticity? Clonal diversity in the uniparental Caucasian rock lizard,...

Allozyme variation at 35 gene loci is investigated in 161 specimens of the uniparental Caucasian lizard Lacerta dahli from several locations in Armenia and Georgia. All individuals are heterozygotic at 12 loci, and homozygotic at 21 loci. Variation at two loci results in five uniparental clones. One clone is widespread whereas four are geographically restricted and are represented by only one or two individuals. Because successful formation of uniparental clones is rare, and because the biparental species forming them are now allopatric, the most probable explanation for the origin of the observed clonal diversity is either mutation or recombination within the common clone. The rare clones have lower levels of enzyme activity at four loci, suggesting that these organisms may be genetically deficient. Although the evidence points to change in a pre-existing clone, the possibility of multiple origins cannot be ruled out.