Hybrids Between Common and Antarctic Minke Whales Are Fertile and Can Back-cross

Overview

Journal BMC Genet

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 2013 Apr 17

PMID 23586609

Citations 10

Authors

Kevin A Glover

Naohisa Kanda

Tore Haug

Luis A Pastene

Nils Oien

Bjorghild B Seliussen

Anne G E Sorvik

Hans J Skaug

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Minke whales are separated into two genetically distinct species: the Antarctic minke whale found in the southern hemisphere, and the common minke whale which is cosmopolitan. The common minke whale is further divided into three allopatric sub-species found in the North Pacific, southern hemisphere, and the North Atlantic. Here, we aimed to identify the genetic ancestry of a pregnant female minke whale captured in the North Atlantic in 2010, and her fetus, using data from the mtDNA control region, 11 microsatellite loci and a sex determining marker.

Results: All statistical parameters demonstrated that the mother was a hybrid displaying maternal and paternal contribution from North Atlantic common and Antarctic minke whales respectively. Her female fetus displayed greater genetic similarity to North Atlantic common minke whales than herself, strongly suggesting that the hybrid mother had paired with a North Atlantic common minke whale.

Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrates, for the first time, that hybrids between minke whale species may be fertile, and that they can back-cross. Whether contact between these species represents a contemporary event linked with documented recent changes in the Antarctic ecosystem, or has occurred at a low frequency over many years, remains open.

Citing Articles

Evolution of the recombination regulator PRDM9 in minke whales.

Damm E, Ullrich K, Amos W, Odenthal-Hesse L BMC Genomics. 2022; 23(1):212.

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Consequences of Hybridization in Mammals: A Systematic Review.

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Evidence of unidirectional hybridization and second-generation adult hybrid between the two largest animals on Earth, the fin and blue whales.

Pampoulie C, Gislason D, Olafsdottir G, Chosson V, Halldorsson S, Mariani S Evol Appl. 2021; 14(2):314-321.

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Hybridization in bottlenose dolphins-A case study of Tursiops aduncus × T. truncatus hybrids and successful backcross hybridization events.

Gridley T, Elwen S, Harris G, Moore D, Hoelzel A, Lampen F PLoS One. 2018; 13(9):e0201722.

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Whole genome resequencing reveals diagnostic markers for investigating global migration and hybridization between minke whale species.

Malde K, Seliussen B, Quintela M, Dahle G, Besnier F, Skaug H BMC Genomics. 2017; 18(1):76.

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