Screening of guinea pig strains for electrophoretic isoenzyme polymorphisms

Abstract

SummarySeven strains of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) with different degrees of inbreeding were investigated for genetic variability by starch gel electrophoresis. Variants for six out of 31 loci (Gpd-1, Aat-1, Ak-2, Pgm-1, Ada and Gpi) are reported. The data suggest that the strains all come from a small founding population and therefore are genetically more homogenous than the visible characteristics imply. Differences between isoenzyme data and other genetic characters are described and possible underlying genetic mechanisms are discussed.