Summary
The literature was searched for examples of biochemical differences between the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) and other mammals. Ten well established examples of significant differences were found and are described here. The most striking observation to emerge is that two unusual changes have occurred in the guinea pig (and several other Hystricomorphs) and also in certain New World monkeys, changes that are seen in no other mammalian species examined. The changes are the development of an insulin so divergent in structure that it fails to cross-react with anti-serum to bovine insulin; and the presence of plasma L-asparaginase. The possibility that these are examples of convergent evolution is considered. It is also suggested that the guinea pig may be unique with respect to the number of biochemical differences that it exhibits.
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Dedicated to Prof. David Shemin in honor of his 70th birthday.
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Wriston, J.C. Biochemical peculiarities of the guinea pig and some possible examples of convergent evolution. J Mol Evol 17, 1–9 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01792418
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01792418