GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF <i>Hbb<sup>p</sup></i> ALLELE IN THE JAPANESE WILD MOUSE, <i>MUS MUSCULUS MOLOSSINUS</i>

Abstract

Electrophoretic survey of Hbb alleles in the Japanese wild mouse, Mus musculus molossinus, revealed a high incidence of Hbbp, the overall frequency of which in Japan was 56.6%. The Hbbd allele was also common (42.7%) but Hbb8 was rare (0.7%). Geographically, Hbbp allele is prevalent in the central regions of Japan, while Hbbd allele is more common in the peripheral regions. One of the possible explanation of this geographical distribution is the plural migration of wild mouse into Japan through either two southern routes and one northern route. On the global distribution profile of the three alleles, the house mouse seems to separate into two groups, Asian group and Western group, and M. m. molossinus belongs to Asian group.