INVESTIGADORES
NIEVES Mariela
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Primate Genetics Research in Argentina
Autor/es:
MUDRY, MARTA D.; ASCUNCE, MARINA S.; NIEVES, MARIELA; STEINBERG, ELIANA R.; FERNANDEZ, VANINA; SESARINI, CARLA; SOLÍS, GUSTAVO; ZUNINO, GABRIEL E.
Lugar:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Reunión:
Congreso; 29th Annual Meeting American Society of Primatologist; 2006
Institución organizadora:
American Society of Primatologist
Resumen:
  For the last 25 years, Argentinean primatologists have developed numerous studies of platyrrhines that inhabit Argentina and neighboring Paraguay and Bolivia, including Alouatta caraya, Aotus azarae, Cebus apella and Saimiri boliviensis. Studies have centered on population parameters, habitat uses, behavior, and genetics. The main goal of genetic studies has been to provide information necessary for inferring evolutionary patterns and taxonomic status of species. In Alouatta caraya (68 specimens), a modal number of 2N=52, X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y1Y2, was established with its particular multiple chromosome sex system, involving a Y-autosomal translocation observed in meiosis. Meiotic analyses of Cebus apella and Saimiri boliviensis confirmed human-like XY chromosomal sex determination. C. apella paraguayanus (75 specimens) and C. apella nigritus (15 specimens) showed the same modal number (2N=54, XX/XY). The modal number was 2N=44, XX/XY, in Saimiri boliviensis (48 specimens), and 2N=49, XY or 2N=50, XX, in Aotus azarae azarae (10 specimens). More recently, in C. apella paraguayanus the heterochromatin block on chromosome 11 was micro-dissected and used as a probe for ZOO-FISH analysis. In the first phylogeographic study of platyrrhines mitochondrial sequence variability of Alouatta caraya was examined, indicating that a demographic expansion occurred at the end of Pleistocene glaciations around 7,000-15,500 years ago. Future research will concentrate on both genetic and ecological dynamics of platyrrhines throughout the geographic range, to define patterns of speciation and genetic variability.