1. Extensive polymorphism and ancient origin of Plasmodium falciparum
- Author
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Austin L. Hughes and Federica Verra
- Subjects
Genetics ,Genetic diversity ,education.field_of_study ,Polymorphism, Genetic ,biology ,Genes, Protozoan ,Plasmodium falciparum ,Population ,Sequence Analysis, DNA ,biology.organism_classification ,DNA sequencing ,Nucleotide diversity ,Evolution, Molecular ,Infectious Diseases ,Effective population size ,Evolutionary biology ,Polymorphism (computer science) ,Genotype ,Animals ,Humans ,Parasitology ,Malaria, Falciparum ,education ,Genome, Protozoan - Abstract
DNA sequence data reveal extensive polymorphism in the virulent, human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The extent of polymorphism at apparently neutral-evolving loci points to a common ancestor for this species that is no more recent than approximately 150,000-200,000 years ago. In addition, there is evidence of balanced polymorphisms at certain antigen-encoding loci, some of which have been maintained for millions of years. Thus, we can reject the hypothesis that this species underwent a recent extreme bottleneck (i.e. one in which the population was reduced to a single haploid genotype). However, it is possible that less-severe bottlenecks have occurred.
- Published
- 2002
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