[Genetic Differentiation among Natural Populations of the Lizard Complex Darevskia raddei as Inferred from Genome Microsatellite Marking].

The article presents the genetic parameters of the populations of lizards of the Darevskia raddei complex (D. raddei nairensis and D. raddei raddei) and the populations of D. valentini calculated on the basis of the analysis of variability of 50 allelic variants of the three nuclear genome microsatellite-containing loci of 83 individuals. It was demonstrated that the F(st) genetic distances between the populations of D. raddei nairensis and D. raddei raddei were not statistically significantly different from the F(st) genetic distances between the populations of different species, D. raddei and D. valentini. At the same time, these distances were statistically significantly higher than the F(st) distances between the populations belonging to one species within the genus Darevskia. These data suggest deep divergence between the populations of D. raddei raddei and D. raddei nairensis of the D. raddei complex and there arises the question on considering them as separate species.

[Thermodynamic characterization of di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide loci in parthenogenetic lizards Darevskia unisexualis].

Allelic polymorphism of three microsatellite loci from the genome of parthenogenetic lizard Darevskia unisexualis was characterized using analysis of free energy (Gibbs energy) of the DNA/DNA duplex formation within the stepwise mutational model. It was demonstrated that the number of microsatellite cluster monomericic units would change to decrease the mean free energy of the locus. In addition, based on the analysis of nucleotide composition, the GC content of each locus was evaluated, and belonging of the loci examined to certain isochore families was suggested.