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Discusses the genetic maps of human and animal genomes. Emergence and disappearance of mammalian species; Evolution of genetic science; Development of mammalian gene maps; Efforts to understand genetic distribution to diseases and other biological phenomena; Biomedical applications of comparative genomics; Significance of comparative genomics.

Studies means of choosing mammalian genomes for sequencing. Overview on advances in genomics research through the years; Morphological and physiological differences in mammalian genetic structure; Phylogenetic relationships among modern orders of placental mammals.

Examines reasons behind selecting dog for full-genome sequencing by researchers. Goals of the International Human Genome Project; Progress registered in dog genetics; Process used in building dog genome sequence.

The world's domestic cats carry patterns of sequence variation in their genome that reflect a history of domestication and breed development. A genetic assessment of 979 domestic cats and their wild progenitors—Fells silvestris silvestris (European wildcat), F. s. lybica (Near Eastern wildcat), F. s. ornata (central Asian wildcat), F. s. cafra (southern African wildcat), and F. s. bieti (Chinese desert cat)—indicated that each wild group represents a distinctive subspecies of Fells silvestris. Further analysis revealed that cats were domesticated in the Near East, probably coincident with agricultural village development in the Fertile Crescent. Domestic cats derive from at least five founders from across this region, whose descendants were transported across the world by human assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modem felid species descend from relatively recent (<11 million years ago) divergence and speciation events that produced successful predatory carnivores worldwide but that have confounded taxonomic classifications. A highly resolved molecular phytogeny with divergence dates for all living cat species, derived from autosomal, X-linked, Y-linked, and mitochondrial gene segments (22,789 base pairs) and 16 fossil calibrations define eight principal lineages produced through at least 10 intercontinental migrations facilitated by sea-level fluctuations. A ghost lineage analysis indicates that available felid fossils underestimate (i.e., unrepresented basal branch length) first occurrence by an average of 76%, revealing a low representation of felid lineages in paleontological remains. The phylogenetic performance of distinct gene classes showed that Y-chromosome segments are appreciably more informative than mitochondrial DNA, X-linked, or autosomal genes in resolving the rapid Felidae species radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the DNA sequence variation in four nuclear genes of African forest and savannah elephants. Phylogenetic distinctions between the two elephant species; Nucleotide site differences; Morphological and habitat distinctions; Hybridization of gene flow between the elephant species.

Examines the effects of increased heterozygosity on the development of AIDS in patients infected with HIV-1. Delay of the onset of AIDS in those with maximum human leukocyte antigen (HLA) heterozygosity of class I loci; Homozygosity of loci and the development of AIDS; HLA class I alleles B*35 and Cw*04 associated with the development of AIDS in Caucasians; Heterozygosity and survival rate.