Genetical Research

Table of Contents - 1977 - Volume 29, Issue 03  

Research Article

Unifactorial inheritance of warfarin resistance in Rattus norvegicus from Denmark

J. H. Greavesa1 and P. B. Ayresa1

a1 Pest Infestation Control Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey

Abstract

Wild populations of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, in Jutland have been known to be resistant to the anticoagulant rodenticide warfarin since 1962. The inheritance of the resistance was investigated in the F1, backcross and intercross. The results are consistent with the resistance being due to a major gene at the Rw locus. Resistant homozygotes, heterozygotes and susceptible homozygotes appeared to be distinguishable experimentally on the basis of differences in their susceptibility to vitamin K deficiency. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies of the inheritance of warfarin resistance in rats.

(Received December 01 1976)

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