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fragments between 1.25kb and 1.4kb. The majority of variants contained a

pair of fragments of variable size and intensity between 2.0kb and 2.2kb: five

variants contained a 2.0kb fragment, and another fragment 2.3kb or larger.

 Many of the Ddel variants were distinguished by fragments that differed

slightly in intensity and/or molecular weight. Similar to the Mspl restriction

fragment patterns, Ddel variant groups were identified with subsets of common

fragments, and variants in each group were generally restricted in distribution

to populations with similar genetic backgrounds.


Description and distribution of groups of Ddel variants.

 Sample sizes, numbers of variants in each group, and total number of

variants detected in each population tested are given in Table 1.

 Variants D101 and D102 (Figures 4 & 5) were characterized by a pair of

2.1 kb fragments and by 1.1 kb and 1.0kb fragments. They differed from each

other in the sizes of fragments near 2.0kb and 1.35kb. These two variants

were detected only in North American drones.

 Variants D201-D203 (Figures 4 & 5) were identified by the presence of

a 1.25kb fragment and the absence of the 1.0kb fragment detected in D101

and D102. Variants D201-D203 were distinguished from each other by the

size and intensity of the fragments from 2.1 kb to 2.0kb and 1.35kb to 1.25kb

(Figure 4). D201 was found in one USA colony and in feral colonies in Mexico

and Honduras; D202 and D203 were found in feral colonies in Honduras.