Linkage of lactate dehydrogenase B and C loci in pigeons.

Synthesis of lactate dehydrogenase in somatic and gametic tissues of certain avian and mammalian species is controlled by alleles at three loci, A, B, and C. We report breeding experiments with pigeons that conclusively demonstrate linkage between the B and C structural loci in this species. The most probable recombination fraction is zero, and contiguity is not excluded. The upper 95 percent probability limit is 4.5 percent. This tight linkage of two loci that produce closely similar polypeptides suggests that the loci acquired their separate identities through a duplication event. Further-more, the existence of recognizable B- and C-type polypeptides in both the bird and the mammal suggests that the event and the resulting linkage preceded the separation of these fauna. If so, then the linkage has persisted for a very long time.