Article
A single amino acid mutation contributes to adaptive beach mouse color pattern.
Science (New York, N.Y.) - 7 Jul 2006
Hoekstra Hopi E, Hirschmann Rachel J, Bundey Richard A, Insel Paul A, Crossland Janet P
Abstract excerpt
Natural populations of beach mice exhibit a characteristic color pattern, relative to their mainland conspecifics, driven by natural selection for crypsis. We identified a derived, charge-changing amino acid mutation in the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) in beach mice, which decreases receptor function. In genetic crosses, allelic variation at Mc1r explains 9.8% to 36.4% of the variation in seven pigmentation...
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