ORAL PRESENTATION (abstract)

Mónica Medina
Medina@evol5.mbl.edu
Josephine Bay Paul Center for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, 
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015, U.S.A.

" GENE FLOW ESTIMATES FOR THE CALIFORNIA SEA HARE (Aplysia
californica) BY THE USE OF NUCLEAR MENDELIAN MARKERS "

The large number of neurobiological studies that use A. californica as their model organisms has created a demand for specimens. As a response to this demand, A. californica breeding facilities were created, the most important of which is the NIH National Resource for  Aplysia located at the University of Miami. The next step was the development of appropriate markers for genetic assessment of the hatchery populations. Nuclear mendelian markers were developed and used in an initial survey of genetic variation of wild populations. The intention of this survey was two-fold: 1) to evaluate the effect on genetic population structure of oceanic currents and other dispersal barriers, and 2) to identify the possible sources of genetic diversity for improvement of hatchery populations. 
A. californica is endemic to the coast of California and the Gulf of California, and samples from both areas were examined. High levels of gene flow were detected and geographic distance was not reflected in genetic differentiation. Even though no evidence of population structure was found, enough polymorphisms were detected to assure the maintenance of outbred populations under cultivation, and to provide convenient genetic markers for future controlled breeding experiments.

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