Cancer Institute A national cancer institute
designated cancer center

Peter Parham

Publication Details

  • Evolution of MHC class I genes in higher primates.

    Lienert K, Parham P. Immunol Cell Biol. 1996; 74 (4): 349-56

    The classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes are conserved in higher primates. Motifs common to human, chimpanzee and gorilla alleles indicate that class I alleles diverged from ancestral sequences that existed before separation of these species. Analysis of native human populations such as Australian Aborigines and Amerindians shows that HLA-B is characterized by rapid generation of new alleles. HLA-A and -C appear to be evolving more slowly. Comparison of alleles for orthologous class I genes in humans and other primates confirms that similar mechanisms contribute to the generation of new alleles in these species.

    PubMedID: 8872186

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