In mammals growth hormone (GH) is generally a strongly conserved protein, reflecting a slow rate of molecular evolution. However, during primate and artiodactyl evolution episodes of rapid change occurred, so that the GHs of higher primates and ruminants differ markedly from those of other mammals. To extend knowledge of GH evolution in Cetartiodactyla (Artiodactyla plus Cetacea) we have previously characterized GH genes from several members of this group, including the common dolphin. Surprisingly the sequence deduced for dolphin GH differed at several residues from that described previously for another cetacean, finback whale. To investigate this anomaly we have now cloned and characterized the GH gene from finback whale. The overall organization of this gene is similar to that of dolphin, and the deduced amino acid sequence of finback whale GH differs from that of dolphin GH at only residue 47, and from that of pig GH at only residue 149. Phylogenetic analysis of the data provides further support for inclusion of Cetacea within the order Cetartiodactyla, as sister group of Hippopotamidae. The results support the idea that in Cetartiodactyla a burst of rapid evolution of GH occurred after the separation of the line leading to ruminants from other cetartiodactyls. Overall, the GH gene in cetaceans appears to be evolving more slowly than in most other cetartiodactyls.
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