DNA of Akodon (Rodentia, Cricetidae). II. Molecular hybridization of repetitive DNA sequences.

Interspecies repetitive DNA homology was studied in akodont rodents related at generic and suprageneric levels. The homology was determined by taking the species Akodon molinae as the reference species. The 3H-DNA/DNA hybridization on filters showed a closer relationship between A. molinae and A. azarae, A. dolores and A. mollis than between A. molinae and Bolomys obscurus. These data agree with the taxonomical ranking of the species. The quantity and quality of the hybrid DNAs were measured by investigating their thermal stabilities and subsequent comparison to the results obtained on the reference species. These data indicate high similitude between the repetitive DNA of A. dolores and A. molinae. Increasing differences were shown to occur in the repetitive DNA of A. mollis, B. obscurus and A. azarae, respectively. Since these results coincide with the G-banding homologies and differ slightly from the taxonomical rank, it is speculated that the divergency between the DNA of A. molinae and A. azarae is the result of a differential process of DNA amplification which is not related to the phylogenetical distance separating the two species.