Hybrid???

[EZM]

Originally Posted by sk270

This has become an interesting topic rather than a troll thread. I have to disagree a bit with both rem338win and EZM.

Google is a search engine which will lead to reliable information.

EZM presents some good information. I recall similar information about interspecific hybrids in some of my classes.

However, unlike EZM, I found quite a bit of information on the internet, some of it contradictory. If anyone can cite a comprehensive summary I would appreciate it.

In the meantime, I found the following:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile...-sequences.pdf
Hybridization between species has resulted in a low level of reciprocal genetic introgression.


http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z91-179
O.v. virginianus and O.v. hemionus have different nuclear genomes but similar mitochondrial genomes.
Allozyme frequency and mtDNA indicate restriction in gene flow between O.v. hemionus and
O.v. virginianus.

https://bioone.org/journals/the-sout...2.0.CO;2.short
If not for behavioural and morphological differences, the two would be considered subspecies in the same genus, according to these authors based on ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA.

Fertility in an F1 male hybrid of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)× mule deer (O. hemionus)
No apparent anomalies that would reduce fertility. However, F1 hybrids are rare.
Our data do not support the contention that hybrid sterility limits interspecific hybridization.

To distinguish hybrids, Generally, the most reliable character is the length of the metatarsal gland, ^ 70 mm long in mule deer and ^42 mm long in white-tailed deer.

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z88-240
Infertility of F1 hybrids in captive deer herd not explained but apparent.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3783860...n_tab_contents
Serum albumin tests revealed that 3 of 34 mule deer tested in 1992 had hybrid ancestry with white-tailed deer. Our results suggest that in local areas, incidence of introgressive hybridization between species may be as great as 19% (3/16=0.188).

Any further citations would be appreciated.

Good citations (and certainly more recent compared to when I graduated) - although there is a distinction to me - I agree the possibility clearly (and scientifically) exists - I guess my main point was the "commonality" or frequency is impossible to measure without controlled experiments like the ones done on the deer farms.

IIRC they inseminated hundreds of does, measured and studied development, etc... to try and determine "rates and frequency of viability".

I guess the one thing that was mentioned, is that these semi-tame deer still exhibited some stress when being sedated and ultra sounded which could have led to higher instances of stress induced miscarriage.

Back to your citations, which are very interesting, and based on the summary alone (I didn't read all of the papers of course) it looks to be examining the remaining (and rare) hybrids that DID make it to a healthy adult, not necessarily measuring the frequency in viability.

Either way - you are right - pretty cool discussion.

This would be a very difficult study I think for the reasons as mentioned above.

[sk270]

In my post, please delete the extraneous "v's". That is, the deer are O. virginianus and O. hemionus. Careless typing on my part.

I agree the study would be very difficult to do. I'm going to look for some more information when I have more time, perhaps this weekend.