Characterization of mitochondrial DNA from the pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens).

Further to anatomical and physiological studies performed on the pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens), a new laboratory animal, the main characteristics of the mitochondrial DNA from its liver are defined. The buoyant density of this DNA is 1.695 g/cm3, its length 5.30 mum,, i.e., 3.17 times that of the replicative form of phiX 174. It could have approximately 16 500 base pairs. The DNA from the pika is very similar to that of the rat or the rabbit, although these animals show great physiological differences.