The Genome Institute Publications

Gene duplication and fragmentation in the zebra finch major histocompatibility complex.
Authors	Balakrishnan CN, Ekblom R, Völker M, Westerdahl H, Godinez R, Kotkiewicz H, Burt DW, Graves T, Griffin DK, Warren WC, Edwards SV.
Journal	BMC Biol. 2010 Apr 1;8:29.
PubMed	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20359332
Abstract	Due to its high polymorphism and importance for disease resistance, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been an important focus of many vertebrate genome projects. Avian MHC organization is of particular interest because the chicken Gallus gallus, the avian species with the best characterized MHC, possesses a highly streamlined minimal essential MHC, which is linked to resistance against specific pathogens.

Gene duplication and fragmentation in the zebra finch major histocompatibility complex.