Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information
Published on: August 15, 2019
Maintenance of DQB1 polymorphisms in primates
L K Gaur1, A L Hughes, E R Heise
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine.
Abstract:
To understand the evolution of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DQB1 locus in primates, the second exons of seven DQB1 alleles from five non-human primate species were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons of these and other primate sequences show that no between-species diversity is greater than within-species diversity, suggesting maintenance of DQB1 alleles through the history of Old-World primates. There is a preponderance of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions at antigen-binding-site codons; this pattern is in marked contrast to what is seen at the closely related, presumably nonfunctional DQB2 gene. The results support the hypothesis that DQB1 polymorphism is maintained by overdominant selection relating to antigen presentation.
Related Concept Videos
Incomplete Dominance
Multi-species Conserved Sequences
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...

