Wolf Subspecies Classifications Based on Mitochondrial Markers

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Population genetic structure of the population of wolves in the world and population fluctuations is dependent on glacial periods. The dispersal of wolves in Iran and the need to identify the exact species  in conservation programs, in this study, relation of supspecies  probable wolf in Iran, Canis lupus pallipes, (Canis lupus cubanensis and Canis lupus lupus) with other subspecies in the world genes based on full sequence of cytochrome b, control region genes of mtDNA, ND1 and CO1 gene in gene banks worldwide were recorded. Classification based on the sequences analysis of each gene was performed. And common haplotypet of the four genes mentioned above were determined and the haplotype network was drawn. Results showed that the subspecies Canis lupus lupus of the old haplotype with high dispersion in the Middle East and Europe has complex relationships with other subspecies in the world and also in ranking of wolf subspecies, control region and cytochrome b gene to CO1 and ND1 gene haplotype differentiate between them than superficially appear.
 

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