Origin and Genetic Diversity of Four Subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

367 bps of cytochrome b were sequenced with PCR.Subspecific origin and genetic diversity of red deer in china were studied according to differences of cytochrome b DNA sequences.The DNA differences of 4 subspecies were within subspecific diversity,but two populations of Tianshan red deer may be regarded as two subspecies.The divergence occurred about 0.54-0.76 Mya ago among 4 subspecies and Tianshan red deer diverged first from the other subspecies.It may be thought that red deer and sika deer diverged later and had closer relationships because of lower interspecific genetic difference between them.