ABSTRACT. In this paper, we present an overview of classical genetic markers in nonhuman primates and then contrast the discriminatory powers of these markers with DNA markers. We have restricted the scope of our discussion to genetic markers found in blood, since they have been studied most extensively over the past 30 years. For example, immunoglobulin allotypes, complement markers, transferrins, and other protein markers can be identified using serum or plasma. Lymphocytes carry the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers, which are very polymorphic in most nonhuman primates. Lymphocytes are also used as a source of DNA. Finally, red blood cells carry an enormous array of blood group as well as isozyme markers. Our discussion will be limited to three species: rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), baboons (Papio hamadryas), and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), although the principles are applicable to all nonhuman primates.Key Words: Blood groups; Biochemical polymorphisms; Tandem repeats; Parentage determination.
BLOOD GROUP MARKERSThe blood group markers were among the first genetic markers clearly defined in nonhuman primates (DOGCLEnY & STONE, 1971;STONE, 1967). Chimpanzees are polymorphic for the human ABO blood groups and can be typed for them using a simple agglutination test. However, the majority of reagents that detect polyrnorphic systems in humans do not detect genetic variation in nonhuman primates (SocHA, 1989). To type Old World monkeys, it is necessary to use operationally monospecific alloimmune sera (FREOERICI~ et al., 1990). A polyspecific blood typing serum would detect the products of several unidentifiable loci and, in this respect, would be similar to a multi-locus DNA fingerprinting probe. We have produced monospecific reagents that detect polymorphisms at 13 independent blood group loci in rhesus monkeys. Using these reagents, almost two million possible genotypes can be differentiated (STONE et al., 1987).These blood groups have been used for parentage testing (SULLIVAN et al., 1977) as shown in Table I. The offspring clearly inherited factors G1, H2, I1, and M3 from its father, since these are absent in the mother. The only male with all of these factors is designated the true father. This case demonstrates the power of markers which define genotypes over those which only characterize phenotypes.Blood groups have been used to study the relationship between male social dominance and reproductive success in a captive troop of rhesus monkeys (CURIE-COHEN et al., 1983).In this troop, the social structure remained relatively stable over an eight-year period, 366 W.H. STONE et al. although the number of adult males varied from 4 to 10. Using blood typing, we determined paternity for 48 of 77 offspring born into the colony. The 62~ success rate is remarkable given that this was a closed troop with considerable inbreeding. Our results (Table 2) indicated that the dominant male sired only 13-32~ of the offspring, even though he participated in 67~ of the observed copulations. Surprisingly, t...
